SEPTA's New Crum Creek Viaduct
October 21, 2016
On Friday, 10/21, state and local officials joined SEPTA for a ceremony marking the completion of the Crum Creek Viaduct Replacement Project.
The Viaduct is a 735-foot-long steel and concrete structure comprised of five long spans, four piers, and two abutments that replaced 17 simply supported steel spans.
The Crum Creek Viaduct Replacement Project was a unique accelerated bridge construction (ABC) design build project that replaced the bridge on the existing rail alignment. Utilizing 3rd party forces and employing innovative contracting and construction processes, SEPTA closed the viaduct, located between Wallingford and Swarthmore Stations in Delaware County for 11 weeks in the summer of 2016 to perform a critical phase of the construction project. During this phase of the project, shuttle buses replaced train service between Swarthmore and Elwyn Stations. Regional Rail service returned on Monday, September 5.
The Crum Creek Viaduct which dated back to 1895 [the same year Babe Ruth was born and Marconi invented the radio] was acquired by SEPTA from Conrail in 1983. Three decades later, the viaduct reached the end of its useful life and required replacement to ensure safe and efficient rail service for nearly 11,000 riders who rely on the Media/Elwyn Line each day. SEPTA’s Crum Creek Viaduct is located along the Media/Elwyn Regional Rail Line between Wallingford and Swarthmore Stations in Delaware County. The Viaduct recently reopened after an 11-week phase of the replacement project that required its closure.
As an important piece of Delaware County infrastructure, the Crum Creek Viaduct Replacement Project was made possible by state Act 89, Pennsylvania’s transportation funding bill. Act 89 was passed in November 2013 to provide a stable source of funding for transportation improvements statewide, such as infrastructure and replacement of aging vehicles. With Act 89 in place, SEPTA has launched dozens of long-needed capital improvement projects throughout the transit system and across all modes of travel.
Several other improvements were made along the Media/Elwyn Line with Act 89 funds, including extensive overhauls to the century old Cobbs Creek, Darby Creek and Ridley Creek Viaducts and slope stabilization construction that included rock scaling and installation of retaining walls to secure the railroad embankment at the Media Station. SEPTA forces are replacing the catenary system along the Media/Elwyn Line and modernization upgrades to the Lenni and Morton substations were also completed.
During the commemoration ceremony, officials unveiled a plaque to commemorate the completion of the project. The sign is prominently mounted on a bridge column above the Crum Creek.
The new Crum Creek Viaduct is a 735-foot long steel and concrete structure comprised of five long spans,four piers and two abutments that replaced 17 simply supported steel spans. New bridge abutments were constructed in front of existing abutments and the new superstructure was slid into alignment halfway through the 11-week replacement project. The new bridge is designed for a 100-year lifespan.
Following the return of Regional Rail service in September, crews immediately began work to restore the site. Thus far, crews have reopened the Leiper-Smedley trail and public access to trails below the Crum Creek Viaduct. Working closely with Swarthmore College and Scott Arboretum, the eastern and western slopes have been graded, seeded and planted with over 5,000 trees and bushes. Crumhenge – an area located adjacent to the viaduct where unique stone slabs were located for generations, had to be removed during construction. The Crumhenge area was also laid out and re-installed. Wetland restoration work is ongoing.
The completed Crum Creek Viaduct.
