Howellville Road Bridge Replacement, PA
AEG, a SOCOTEC Company, provided comprehensive surveying services during preliminary and final design for the replacement of the Howellville Road Bridge over the Norfolk Southern Railway in Tredyffrin Township, Pennsylvania.
Key Information
Project Name: Howellville Road Bridge Replacement
Client: Tredyffrin Township
Location: Chester County, Pennsylvania
Services Provided: Surveying and Transportation
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The Challenge
Modernizing a Historic Rail Crossing
Dating to 1879, the existing Howellville Road Bridge was a single-span wrought-iron Warren truss structure crossing the Norfolk Southern Railway. The orphaned bridge was structurally deficient and classified in “poor” condition under FHWA inspection standards, presenting safety and accessibility concerns.
Replacing the structure required balancing its historic character with the requirements of a new bridge. The replacement needed to preserve the historic aesthetic of the original structure while incorporating modern safety features, wider shoulders, and improved pedestrian access.
Its location above an active railway also required close coordination with Norfolk Southern to meet vertical clearance requirements while minimizing disruption to rail operations. As part of the project, the original bridge was relocated to Tioga County for future reuse as part of a pedestrian trail project, allowing the historic structure to serve a new purpose rather than being permanently removed.
The Solution
Precision Surveying for Bridge Design
AEG, a SOCOTEC Company, provided surveying support throughout the preliminary and final design phases, establishing the control and field measurements needed to document existing site conditions.
Surveying services included:
- Establishing base control using GPS
- Calibrating vertical benchmarks
- Developing a closed-loop traverse corrected for closure
- Establishing baseline stationing for precise ground feature locations
- Conducting cross-section surveys to document bridge geometry, utilities, and drainage elements
- Performing a detailed railroad survey
- Locating top rails at 25-foot intervals along a 200-foot section of track
- Mapping features beneath the bridge from the track bed
- Managing required safety training and coordination with Norfolk Southern railroad flagmen
- Sending certified letters to adjoining property owners regarding site access requirements
This scope enabled AEG to carry out the required survey activities while following Norfolk Southern’s safety protocols.
AEG, a SOCOTEC Company, provided surveying support throughout the preliminary and final design phases, establishing the control and field measurements needed to document existing site conditions.
Surveying services included:
- Establishing base control using GPS
- Calibrating vertical benchmarks
- Developing a closed-loop traverse corrected for closure
- Establishing baseline stationing for precise ground feature locations
- Conducting cross-section surveys to document bridge geometry, utilities, and drainage elements
- Performing a detailed railroad survey
- Locating top rails at 25-foot intervals along a 200-foot section of track
- Mapping features beneath the bridge from the track bed
- Managing required safety training and coordination with Norfolk Southern railroad flagmen
- Sending certified letters to adjoining property owners regarding site access requirements
This scope enabled AEG to carry out the required survey activities while following Norfolk Southern’s safety protocols.
The Results
Preserving History Through Bridge Replacement
The new bridge incorporated modern safety features, wider shoulders, and improved pedestrian access, addressing key needs associated with the replacement.
The original bridge was relocated to Tioga County for future reuse as part of a pedestrian trail project, allowing the structure to serve a new purpose in a different setting.
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