34 • October 2016 www.concreteproducts.com
Pennsylvania Department of Transportation Secretary of Transporta-
tion Leslie Richards joined National Park Service and other federal,
state and local officials for a late-summer opening of the $9.2-million
Sullivan's Bridge. The 14-ft. wide, 604-ft. long bicycle and pedestrian
trail structure spans the Schuylkill River in Valley Forge National
Historical Park, near Philadelphia.
Sullivan's Bridge comprises 12 bulb tee girders, 71-in. deep, just
over 150 ft. long and fabricated by Northeast Prestressed Products,
LLC of Cressona, Pa. The four-span structure is named for Major Gen-
eral John Sullivan, who was charged by General George Washington
with building a Schuylkill River crossing during the Continental
Army's 1777-78 Valley Forge winter encampment.
"The National Park Service is observing its 100
th
anniversary, and
what better way than to open this wonderful bridge that will be a
linchpin in connecting the park with all the people who use hundreds
of miles of regional trails," said Valley Forge Park Superintendent Kate
Hammond at a dedication ceremony.
Sullivan's Bridge features a midpoint observation area from
which trail users can view the Schuylkill River and national park
setting. Opened after nearly 30 months of construction, the cross-
ing becomes a critical link in the regional, interconnected Circuit
Trails network. The park location further connects the Circuit Trails
between Montgomery and Chester Counties in eastern Pennsylvania.
Prior to Sullivan's Bridge, pedestrians and bicyclists crossed the
Schuylkill River on a 4.5-ft. wide boardwalk path on the west side
of U.S. 422.
FEATURE
PRESTRESSED
By George
NPP's Valley Forge crossing celebrates Washington's bridge builder
PennDOT Secretary Leslie Richards (right) joins a colleague emulat-
ing Continental Army Major General John Sullivan to officially open
the Schuykill River pedestrian and cyclist crossing. Sullivan's Bridge
is part of the Schuylkill River Crossing Complex of transportation
improvement projects supporting multi-modal travel on U.S. 422,
northwest of Philadelphia.
PHOTOS: Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (ribbon-cutting); Boles, Smyth Associates (bridge perspectives)