Delco bridge, a throughway between townships, reopens ahead of schedule

NETHER PROVIDENCE TOWNSHIP, Pa. (KYW Newsradio) — A more than 100-year-old bridge in Delaware County that connects multiple townships has reopened with some much-needed upgrades.

The Manchester Avenue Bridge, which connects Middletown, Nether Providence and Upper Providence townships, runs over the Darby Creek, a waterway notorious for flooding when it storms.

“A lot of the features that we are putting in is to manage flood mitigation and stormwater management,” said Danielle Floyd, Delaware County director of public works.

Middletown Township Manager John McMullan said this $2.2 million reconstruction project was imperative for local first responders. “The significant improvement in the infrastructure, which makes the response time much quicker in the surrounding areas.”

After nearly a year, the bridge reopened on Monday — seven months ahead of schedule, meaning some of the funds stay in the county’s pocket.

“Eighty percent of that will be a retro-reimbursement from PennDOT,” Floyd noted.

The bridge itself is located at a unique crossroads.

“We get a lot of calls asking, is Manchester Road in Nether Providence, is it in Upper Providence, is it in Rose Valley, is it Middletown?” said Nether Providence Township Manager Dave Grady. “And the answer is yes, yes it is. But I think that goes to show how vitally important this bridge is and this location is.”

This bridge reopening is part of a bigger infrastructure revitalization program in the county. Officials said a bridge in Aston Township is scheduled to reopen this fall, and another in Newtown Township is scheduled for February 2025.