Route 18 in Girard Township will be closed to through traffic starting Sept. 7, for the removal of the bridge over Interstate 90.

The bridge, which is located near I-90 Exit 9 (Route 18, Girard/Platea), was set to be demolished in 2022 as part of the I-90 reconstruction project. The removal was moved up due to safety concerns after the bridge was hit by an over-height vehicle Aug. 25.

Detours are expected to change as work progresses, but PennDOT is working to maintain access to the interstate. Emergency vehicles will still be able to use the interstate emergency crossovers as needed. 

A detour for Route 18 through traffic using Route 20, Route 6N and Route 98 will be posted starting Sept. 7.

For Route 18 northbound, access to the Interstate 90 eastbound on ramp will remain open, as will access to Cross Station Road and the businesses along that roadway. The I-90 westbound on ramp will be closed to all traffic. Traffic on Route 18 wanting to go on I-90 westbound should use I-90 eastbound, Exit 16 (Fairview/Franklin Center) to turn around and go west.

I-90 westbound traffic will be able to use Exit 9 to get on Route 18 northbound. A detour will also be posted for the other I-90 traffic wanting to access Route 18.

I-90 eastbound traffic wanting to go northbound should use Exit 3 and follow the detour on Route 6N and Route 20. Drivers on I-90 eastbound and westbound wanting to get on Route 18 southbound and access the businesses south of the bridge should use Exit 3 (Route 6N, West Springfield Township/Cherry Hill).

Truck drivers should follow detour signs and obey weight limits and height restrictions.

The bridge removal will also require daytime temporary lane restrictions on I-90 near the bridge starting Sept. 8.

There will be nighttime rolling closures on I-90 to remove the bridge deck and beams between 7 p.m. and 7 a.m. Sept. 13-15.

The new bridge is already under construction and expected to open during the 2022 construction season.

Information on the I-90 project, including traffic patterns changes and updates on the new Route 18 bridge and its roundabouts, can be found online here.