Pennsylvania: Bucks County US 1 Improvements Project

Route 1 Gets New Lease of Life

Challenge: Route 1 in Bucks County, Pa., also known as Lincoln Highway, was showing its age. The busy four-lane highway which connects communities and industrial centers with Philly to the south and Trenton, N.J., to the north was constructed in the 1960s. A patchwork of filled-in potholes, ramps that leave little room to merge, an overpass with low vertical clearance, and outdated median barriers make the drive unpleasant and sometimes scary. Backups are common and the area has long outgrown the 60-year-old highway. For over a decade local officials talked about the need to modernize this critical artery and bring it up to today’s mobility and safety standards.     

Solution: With help from the federal infrastructure law, this heavily traveled, four-mile stretch of Route 1 is getting more than a facelift. It is undergoing a total transformation. The U.S. 1 Corridor Improvement Project, which is being completed in three stages, will address safety issues by closing the intermediate access crossovers between the frontage roads and U.S. 1 which are known to have a high crash frequency. Crews will also replace outdated concrete separators with 12-foot to 14-foot-wide paved shoulders and new median barriers. Lastly, the project replaces the remaining three overpasses on U.S. 1 between I-295 and the I-276 (PA Turnpike) that have deficient vertical clearance, which reduces the likelihood of vehicles striking the overpasses. The project will reduce congestion and improve safety by providing an additional travel lane in each direction. For Bucks County residents, and everyone who relies on this highway, a much smoother and much safer ride is just ahead.    

What they’re saying: “The project will reduce congestion and improve safety by providing an additional travel lane in each direction. It will also replace aging infrastructure and provide an updated modern facility for current and future traffic.” – Brad Rudolph, PennDOT spokesman (Construction Equipment Guide, 03/09/2023)