Bethlehem Pike

Client: The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT)

Location: Fort Washington, Pennsylvania

Services: Geotechnical Engineering

The Bethlehem Pike, connecting Philadelphia and Bethlehem, opened in 1968 and remains a major transportation artery in eastern Pennsylvania. Numerous 18th and 19th century buildings flank the Bethlehem Pike and link today’s facility with its historic past. The village of Fort Washington formed along the Bethlehem Pike in Montgomery County in the early 1700s and later developed as a commuter suburb of Philadelphia during the second half of the 19th century and the early 20th century.

The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) plans to improve the intersection of the Bethlehem Pike and Lafayette Avenue in Fort Washington. KCI Technologies undertook historic architectural studies for the project and identified a collection of potential historic properties in the vicinity of the proposed intersection improvements. These properties include well-preserved examples of several architectural styles typical of the period when Fort Washington developed as a suburb. In consultation with PennDOT, KCI delineated this collection as the Village of Fort Washington Historic District. The Pennsylvania State Historic Preservation Office concurred with KCI’s recommendation that the district was eligible for listing on the National Register of Historic Places.

KCI assessed the potential effects of the proposed intersection improvements on the historic district. Because the improvements will require physical alteration of a small portion of the district and will alter the visual elements of the district’s setting, the project will have an adverse effect on the district.

KCI worked with PennDOT to develop measures to mitigate the adverse effect of the proposed improvements in Fort Washington. The mitigation measures include constructing a retaining wall with materials appropriate to the appearance and character of the district and in-kind replacement of vegetation removed during the project.

Using these cost-effective strategies will allow PennDOT to improve vehicular and pedestrian safety at the intersection of Bethlehem Pike and Lafayette Avenue while preserving the historic character of the Village of Fort Washington Historic District.

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