New DeKalb Street Bridge in Bridgeport, Pa.

Pennsylvania Governor Edward G. Rendell joined local officials to open the new $8.4-million DeKalb Street Bridge carrying Route 202 North over Norfolk Southern railroad tracks in Bridgeport Borough, Montgomery County.

"Today we open this
impressive new bridge and restore a critical traffic link between Bridgeport
and Norristown," Governor Rendell said. "The new DeKalb Street Bridge
will benefit commuters and local businesses for years to come and it is a vast
improvement from the 80-year-old, structurally deficient span it replaced."

The construction project
lasted 21 months. The new bridge has two lanes in each direction and shoulders
on both sides. It is 62 feet wide and 308 feet long. The shoulder on the west
side of the bridge is wider to accommodate the future Chester Valley Trail
extension. Lighting on the bridge is consistent with Bridgeport Borough’s
streetscape project.

The old DeKalb Street
Bridge was built in 1928 by the Reading Railroad Company. The railroad company
owned the bridge until PennDOT assumed ownership in 1996. PennDOT acquired 16
parcels and relocated 26 residents and one business for this project. Several
buildings adjacent to the bridge were demolished prior to construction.

J.D. Eckman Inc. of Atglen,
Chester County was the general contractor on the project financed with state
funds.