Spring 2015 Bridge Replacements Scheduled
The Center Hill #6 Bridge replacement will require a seven-mile detour - as shown in red - that could add 10-15 minutes of motor traffic time next summer.
by Jonathan Weaver
A pair of PennDOT bridge projects costing more than $1 million each is already planned out for 2015.
Potentially the most-noticeable bridge replacement will be that of Center Hill Bridge #6 in North Buffalo Township.
Project Manager Dave Layman said that bridge is due to be replaced next summer under the Rapid Bridge Replacement Program. Crews will undergo an accelerated bridge construction, or the state’s P3 (Public Private Partnership) program.
“This project consists of a full bridge replacement. There is going to be a detour,” Layman said. “We anticipate construction from the middle of June 2015 until the middle of August 2015.
During the eight to 10 week $1.2 million project, crews will necessitate a seven-mile detour to motorists – which posted would ask them to utilize State Route 3007 along Route 422 and Freeport Road (Old State Route 28). Layman predicted it would be about a 10-15 minute reroute.
The 94-foot bridge is planned to be widened about two feet during the project and will replace an existing concrete arch determined to be structurally deficient.
“It’s not in real-good condition, so it does require a full replacement. There’s no displacement from the job – just basically what we need to maintain our bridge, our approach way, our drainage,” Layman said. “It’ll be four beams that span Glade Run. It’s a trout-stock stream, so we can not be in the stream during fishing season.”
Further west, the State Route 3013 Nicola Bridge in West Franklin Township will also be fully replaced at the same time - starting in April.
“This project will not be detoured – we’ll have temporary signals set up on both sides of the bridge alternating one lane of traffic throughout the work zone,” Layman said.
The 98-foot-long Nicola Bridge will also receive minor widening to maintain traffic, but will not require any residential or business displacements.
“You’re almost building two bridges when you’re doing half-width construction, so it is a longer project,” Layman said.
The construction timetable for that $1.5 million bridge project was also impacted by fishing in Buffalo Creek – lasting until September.
Some work may be able to be done as long as it doesn’t impact the Fish and Boat Commission stocking.
Fishing season runs from March 1 through June 15.
Layman hopes for the reconstructed bridges to each last a century – given perfect conditions, although salt, debris and flooding do speed up deterioration.
Gibson-Thomas Engineering Project Manager Greg Ulisse said the company has been working on the designs since February and that the timetables were a challenge.
“There are always challenges with any bridge project – the schedule was one obstacle. It’s an aggressive schedule trying to get the projects done,” Ulisse said.
Motorists should expect to see anywhere from four to 15 employees on-scene. Contractors will be determined in December/January.
More than 500 bridges statewide will be replaced during the next four years under the current program.
Local News | jweaver August 28, 2014
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By jorn jensen, August 28, 2014 @ 10:56 AM
Seems that if trout fishing interferes with bridge building, maybe the Fish and Boat Commission should go stock somewhere else for one season and put the emphasis on the bridge building. A little common sense could be applied to the situation.