Harrisburg, Pa. - The Delaware County Chapter of the Pennsylvania Society of Professional Engineers (Delco PSPE) awarded Gannett Fleming the 2019 Outstanding Project Award for the firm’s work on the PA Route 926 Over Brandywine Creek Bridge Replacement. Gannett Fleming attended and sponsored the awards dinner Feb. 25. The annual award acknowledges an outstanding project in, or other significant engineering contribution to, Delaware and southern Chester counties in Pennsylvania. Delco PSPE evaluates projects on several factors, including social, economic, and sustainable development, innovation, and complexity.

Gannett Fleming designed the reconstructed bridge over Brandywine Creek in 2017, transforming a flood-prone roadway. Since 1937, the crossing flooded up to nine times each year, diverting drivers into gridlock on a nearby, narrower bridge. The reimagined design included raising 1,700 feet of roadway approaches, replacing the undersized culvert over Radley Run with twin 48-foot-span culverts, and realigning 800 feet of Creek Road to connect with PA Route 926.

Gannett Fleming constructed the complex solution without impacting historic properties, including the Brandywine Battlefield National Historic Landmark. The reconstructed, three-span structure improves the quality of life for nearly 13,200 drivers per day. Additionally, contractor Clearwater Construction Inc. completed construction within six months under a financial incentive/disincentive contract provision, significantly ahead of the original estimated 18-month schedule.