Old Bethlehem Pike/Portzer Road Roundabout, PA
AEG, a SOCOTEC Company provided surveying and geotechnical engineering services for the $1.9 million Old Bethlehem Pike/Portzer Road Roundabout project in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, supporting the transformation of a traditional intersection into a modern single-lane roundabout.
Key Information
Project Name: Old Bethlehem Pike/Portzer Road Roundabout
Owner: PennDOT District 6-0 / Milford Township
Location: Bucks County, PA
Completion: 2023
Project value: $1.9 million
Services Provided: Surveying, Geotechnical and Laboratory Testing
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The Challenge
Transforming a Key Intersection for Safer Mobility
The Old Bethlehem Pike/Portzer Road Roundabout project reconfigured a traditional intersection into a modern single-lane roundabout to enhance traffic safety and accommodate future growth in Milford and Richland Townships.
The design called for widened entry lanes and an 18-foot-wide circulatory roadway to promote continuous traffic movement and reduce angle crashes.
Pedestrian access was also part of the project, with a five-foot-wide sidewalk along the east side and an eight-foot-wide multi-use trail connecting St. Isidore’s Trail with the Blackledge Estates Trail.
Illuminated signage and permanent lighting installations were also incorporated to improve visibility for motorists and pedestrians.
The Solution
Integrating Surveying and Geotechnical Expertise
AEG, a SOCOTEC Company provided the surveying and geotechnical services required for the project.
Under the supervision of a licensed Professional Land Surveyor, AEG conducted supplemental field surveys, prepared Notice of Intent to Enter letters for affected property owners, and developed a detailed base plan capturing topographic features critical to the design.
For the geotechnical scope, the team prepared an abbreviated Subsurface Exploration Planning Submission (SEPS) and performed California Bearing Ratio (CBR) borings with associated laboratory testing.
The exploration program proposed four borings at each leg of the roundabout and three additional borings near wetlands at the southwest corner.
AEG subsequently prepared a letter-style Final Geotechnical Engineering Report (FGER) with recommendations for fill placement near the wetlands. The team also conducted infiltration investigations to assess the impact of water on roundabout stability and completed the project's pavement design.
AEG, a SOCOTEC Company provided the surveying and geotechnical services required for the project.
Under the supervision of a licensed Professional Land Surveyor, AEG conducted supplemental field surveys, prepared Notice of Intent to Enter letters for affected property owners, and developed a detailed base plan capturing topographic features critical to the design.
For the geotechnical scope, the team prepared an abbreviated Subsurface Exploration Planning Submission (SEPS) and performed California Bearing Ratio (CBR) borings with associated laboratory testing.
The exploration program proposed four borings at each leg of the roundabout and three additional borings near wetlands at the southwest corner.
AEG subsequently prepared a letter-style Final Geotechnical Engineering Report (FGER) with recommendations for fill placement near the wetlands. The team also conducted infiltration investigations to assess the impact of water on roundabout stability and completed the project's pavement design.
The Results
Delivering Safer Travel and Stronger Connectivity
Completed in 2023, the new roundabout provides continuous traffic movement while reducing the potential for angle crashes.
Pedestrian improvements created a connection between St. Isidore’s Trail and the Blackledge Estates Trail, expanding local trail connectivity. Illuminated signage and permanent lighting further enhance visibility for motorists and pedestrians.
The completed project represents a $1.9 million transportation improvement serving Milford and Richland Townships.
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