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Council approves bridge contractor; borough schedules public briefing as construction nears
Summary
Narberth Borough moved forward on the Norbert Avenue bridge replacement after accepting a contractor bid and discussing schedule, funding and public outreach. Officials said the contractor’s notice-to-proceed is expected in August and the borough will seek PennDOT reimbursement for construction invoices.
Narberth Borough Council voted to award the Norbert Avenue bridge replacement contract to the low bidder and approved the contract amount stated at the meeting (stated in meeting as $13,031,068.86). The council also discussed construction phasing, reimbursement through PennDOT and plans for a public workshop once the contractor begins preconstruction work.
Council and staff said the contractor’s notice to proceed is expected in August and that early work will focus on utility coordination rather than visible demolition. “For the first several months after August, the contractor’s gonna be focusing on utility coordination and updating Amtrak’s catenary system,” said Tony, a borough project staff member. That work, staff said, will precede demolition and bridge removal.
The borough manager, Maggie, told council the borough will not carry the long-term construction cost out of pocket: invoices submitted by the contractor will be reimbursed through PennDOT. “That'll work out pretty well,” Maggie said, adding that borough funds held in reserve (proceeds from a parking-lot sale) will be wired as the borough’s contribution and then returned as part of the reimbursement process.
Councilmembers pressed for a public briefing and a fuller timeline. Staff committed to arrange a dedicated workshop that will include the contractor, Pennoni (the borough’s consultant) and the construction manager; staff said that workshop will be scheduled after notice to proceed to give residents a chance to ask questions about staging, traffic impacts and phasing.
The council also discussed contract timing for the borough’s consultant, Pennoni. Staff noted the consultant’s current contract expires in 2027 and that the borough will request an extension to cover construction oversight; council decided to pause action on a long extension until the contractor’s schedule is firmed up at the August workshop.
The project is federally funded and being administered with PennDOT involvement. Staff emphasized they will maintain a single, borough-managed source of information for residents — the borough website — and that they plan to use infographics and QR-code signs to direct people to the project timeline and FAQs.
Council members who raised concerns about duration said they want the contractor to provide the most aggressive reasonable schedule once preconstruction is complete. Staff said the project will require months of staging and utility work before demolition, and that public outreach will continue as the schedule is refined.
