SEPTA marks replacement of Crum Creek rail bridge

The Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA) late last week held a ceremony to mark the completion of the Crum Creek viaduct replacement project in Delaware County, Pa.

The agency used funds from Act 89 — Pennsylvania's transportation funding bill — to pay for the project.

The new 735-foot steel and concrete viaduct is composed of five long spans, four piers and two abutments that replaced 17 simply supported steel spans. Crews built new bridge abutments in front of existing ones.

Halfway through the 11-week replacement project, workers slid the new "superstructure" into alignment, SEPTA officials said in a press release.

The viaduct is used by Media/Elwyn Line commuter trains. The original structure was built in 1895 and acquired by SEPTA from Conrail in 1983.

"Less than three years ago, SEPTA was faced with the possibility of discontinuing Media/Elwyn Line service due to a lack of capital funding to address our critical infrastructure needs along this line," said SEPTA General Manager Jeffrey Knueppel. "With funding made possible by Act 89, we were able to address critical infrastructure projects on this line, create and support jobs and ensure that this major transportation artery will continue to serve the Delaware County community and the region."

SEPTA resumed Media/Elwyn line service across the bridge last month.

The Pennsylvania Legislature passed Act 89 in November 2013. The law enabled SEPTA to carry out a slew of capital improvement projects throughout its system, agency officials said.

SEPTA made several other improvements to the Media/Elwyn Line with Act 89 funds, including overhauls of the century-old Cobbs Creek, Darby Creek and Ridley Creek viaducts. Agency crews now are replacing the catenary system along the line.