Public Works
 

CLICK HERE TO VIEW A MAP OF COMPLETED ROAD RESURFACING WORK (2012-2016)

For further information regarding the Street Maintenance Program, you may contact us via email at rpp@bristoltownship.org or call (215) 785-2758

Streets/Roads

Each year Bristol Township spends more than $600,000 maintaining our roadway system. This includes resurfacing, base repairs, mill and overlay  and pothole repairs.

Bristol’s roadway system consists of approximately 173 road miles. On average, our roadways are resurfaced approximately every 20 years. However, each road is inspected every year and, depending on the conditions, receives the required maintenance regardless of the age of the road. Click here to see a map of Township roads resurfaced over the last 12 years.

Township Highway Crews are also responsible for street sweeping operations, snow plowing, storm sewer maintenance and repair, park maintenance, installing and maintaining  Road Regulatory and Warning signs, and other special duties as assigned by the Township Manager and Council.

Report on Potholes or Other Street Issues

Local streets call (215) 785-2758  or rpp@bristoltownship.org

For a Pennsylvania state highway, you can call the PennDOT toll-free pothole hotline at 1-800-FIX ROAD (1-800-349-7623). Potholes are not the only road concern you can report on the hotline. Customers can use the hotline number for any reason, including:

• Deer carcass removal
• Pothole patching
• Brush and tree removal
• Shoulder and drainage concerns
• Signage issues
• Information about volunteer programs like Adopt-A-Highway
• Complaints and compliments

Snow Removal

Residents are asked to remember the following to get through the winter season safely:

• Use off-street parking when snow is predicted.  When you park your car in the driveway there’s less snow to shovel.
• On-street parking, where no off-street parking is available, is only permitted on one side of the street.  In an odd year parking is only permitted on the odd numbered side of the street.
• Don’t Park vehicles near storm drains, so crews can clear snow and ice to avoid flooding from the melting runoff.
• When shoveling your driveway, pile snow to the right.  This will prevent the plow from covering your driveway opening again. Click here to see a diagram. (Separate attachment)
• Property owners are required to clear their sidewalks at least 30 inches wide within 24 hours after the snow stops.
• Residents are reminded that it is unlawful to park or abandon a car on any street any time within twelve hours after a snowfall of three inches or more, where off-street parking exists. Vehicles parked otherwise are subject to removal at the owner’s expense.

Any motor vehicle parked, stalled, incapable of moving under its own power, or left unattended upon any public street or highway in the Township at any time within twelve hours after a snowfall of three inches or more has occurred may be removed or towed to another location by the Police Department.

Don’t shovel or plow snow into the street.  The plows will just move it back onto your driveway or sidewalk.

Think Safety!  Never approach moving snow removal equipment.  Just because you can see the driver doesn’t mean he can see you.  We try to keep our crews fresh and rested, but extended weather emergencies can mean long hours for Township employees.  Please keep children and pets off the streets as much as possible.

If there’s a fire hydrant by your home, consider adopting it!  You know where it is; if it’s obscured by snow, fire companies responding to emergencies may not find it.  Clearing the snow from the hydrant helps protect you and your neighbors.

Snow Plowing

Our goal is to have all township roads clear within 15-20 hours after the snow has stopped falling.  For this to occur, however, we need your cooperation.  The public works crews plow 173 miles of Township roads.  This translates into over well over 346 lane miles to clear – not an easy task!

If you have off street parking such as a driveway please use it.  Please stack cars closely in your driveway and refrain from parking on the street.  This will help our crews better clear and negotiate your street.  Please do not throw snow back into the street while shoveling or cleaning off cars.  This slows and impedes our operations, and the plows will have to clear it again. 

Ideally, don’t shovel the end of your driveway until the plows have finished with your street.  Remember, all plows are angled to discharge snow to the curb on the right.  It is impossible to plow the streets without the plow being angled.

Primary roads will be cleared first, followed by secondary streets and finally residential streets and cul-de-sacs.  Residential street plowing will not begin until the snow stops falling.  The reason for this is that our main focus and priority is keeping the main roads passable and clear while the snow is falling.  We cannot concentrate our crews in the residential neighborhoods while the snow is falling because the main roads would become dangerous and potentially impassable.

Remember, the public works crews will put in long hard hours clearing the streets…..so please be patient and courteous.

Thank you for your cooperation.
Public Works

Street Light Hotline

To report defective streetlights, call the Administration at 267-812-2888 between 8:00 AM and 4:30 PM Monday through Friday. An after-hours message can be left on the Township’s voice mail system. Just leave the pole number, street location and your phone number (optional). Requests for service can be delayed without the pole number. Please have the pole number before you call. Emergencies can be reported anytime to the Police at 911. For non-emergencies at 215-785-4040.

Public Works Frequently Asked Questions

What is the process for reporting a sewer backup or drainage issue?

Call the Sewer Plant at 215-788-0922. If there is an emergency after hours, you will be directed to an on call technician.

How do I request a traffic study for my neighborhood?

You can email traffic@bristoltownship.org, or call the non- emergency police line at (215) 785-4040.

Are there any public meetings or hearings I can attend?

Yes. Bristol Township Council Meetings are held on the 3rd Thursday of the month at 7:00 PM at the Township Building. Planning Commission meetings are held on the 1st Tuesday of the month at 7:00 PM. Zoning Hearing Board meetings are held on the 2nd Monday of the month at 7:00 PM.

What services does the public works department provide?

Maintenance of 33 Parks and green belts, over four thousand storm drains and over 178,000 LF of pipe. The Public Works Department maintains 176 miles of paved roads, maintains all directional/traffic flow signs within the Township, paints crosswalks for school crossings, maintains the streetlights and school flasher signals, performs routine street sweeping throughout the year and plows and salts all Township owned roadways

How can I report a pothole or road damage?

To report a pothole on a Bristol Township Road, you can call the Public Works Department at (215) 785-2758. If the pothole is on a Pennsylvania state highway, you can call the PennDOT toll-free pothole hotline at 1-800-FIX ROAD (1-800-349-7623). You can also submit a concern on PennDOT's website

What are the guidelines for tree trimming or removal on public property?

In Pennsylvania, courts have ruled that “encroaching tree parts are a trespass which a landowner may remove.” In other words, if branches of your neighbor’s tree overhang your property, you generally have the right to trim the overhanging tree branches (this is commonly referred to as “self-help”) – but – and this is important – only up to your property line, and no further. And all the work must be performed while on your own side of the property line. So unless you have your neighbor’s permission, you may not trim any part of the tree that is on the neighbor’s side of the property line, and you or your arborist may not go onto your neighbor’s property to do the work.

Why is the Township ripping up my sidewalk and when is it going to be fixed?

We’re not! Lower Bucks County Joint Municipal Authority must remove sidewalks to replace water mains located below them.  Schedules, location and additional information can be found on their website at lbcjma.com.

Who do I call about a streetlight being out?

The Manager’s Office at 267-812-2888

Why can’t we have speed bumps in neighborhoods?

Emergency response: Speed bumps can cause emergency response vehicles to take longer to respond.

Snow removal: Speed bumps can make it difficult to remove snow and ice.

Liability: Speed bumps can create liability issues for the township if they cause an accident or property damage.

Noise: Speed bumps can create a constant barrage of noise from cars scraping over them.

Maintenance: Speed bumps require ongoing maintenance.

Drainage: Speed bumps can impact roadway drainage

Contact Public Works

Hours

Mon-Fri: 8:00 am-4:30 pm

Telephone & Email Directory