MARIANNE – PennDOT has a slew of bridge projects on tap this summer and for the next couple of years, the transportation agency told local officials March 18 at its annual outreach meeting.
Pennsylvania has a lot of bridges, and a lot of them are bad – “structurally deficient” is the term PennDOT uses. They are, or are becoming, unsafe and must be replaced.
PennDOT has launched the Rapid Bridge Replacement program to address 558 structurally deficient bridges across the state.
To do this efficiently, PennDOT has established a P3 – a Private Public Partnership led by the Plenary Walsh Keystone Partners, a consortium of engineering development, construction and maintenance firms.
The partners will take responsibility for designing and building or rehabilitating the bridges and for maintaining them for 25 years.
So far, the program has replaced and opened 47 bridges, mostly in the northeastern part of the state. This year, 260 bridge projects will start all across the state.
Here are the Rapid Bridge Replacement and other PennDOT bridge projects on tap for Clarion County.
Some are major, some are minor, some will require detours, and others are phased, keeping one lane of traffic open during the work.
This year’s projects
— The Day Bridge carrying Route 322 over I-80 near the Village of Day continues. BECDIR Construction is carrying out the $2.47 million project.
— The Shippenville Station Bridge Carrying Route 322 over Deer Creek in Elk Township just west of Shippenville will be replaced this year. This is a phased project and one lane of traffic will remain open. This is a P-3 project carried out by Plenary Walsh Keystone Partners.
— The Callensburg Bridge carrying Route 58 over the Clarion River is scheduled for replacement in 2017 and the project will require a detour. A contract estimated at between $5 and $7 million will be let this June.
— The Piney Creek Bridge carrying Forest Drive (SR 2001) over Piney Creek in Limestone Township will be replaced by Francis J. Palo Inc. at a cost of $1.8 million. A detour will be in place from April 30 to August 16.
— The Potter Road Bridge carrying SR 2025 over I-80 in Clarion Township will be replaced by Francis J. Palo Inc. this year. The $1.8 million project should take 150 days and a detour will be in place.
— Wildcat Bridge Number Two carrying Route 861 over Wildcat Run in Madison Township will be replaced as a P3 project this year. The phased project will not require a detour.
— Diamond Bridge Number One carrying Route 861 over Wildcat Run in Madison Township will be replaced this year as a P3 project. The phased project will not require a detour.
Next year’s projects
— The Reidsburg Curve safety improvement project will replace the bridge carrying Route 68 over Piney Creek, replace a bridge over the old rail line with fill, realign the roadway, improve sight distances and conduct preventive maintenance on other bridges in Monroe Township. The project will be carried out in 2017 or 2018 at a cost of $2.5 million to $5 million. This will be phased construction to keep the roadway open, but a detour will be needed for one to two weeks.
— The Huckleberry Ridge Bridge carrying Huckleberry Ridge Road (SR 2007) over I-80 in Beaver Township will be replaced in 2017 at a cost of $1 million to $2.5 million. A detour will be required.
— Tippecanoe Bridge carrying Tippecanoe Road over a tributary to Canoe Creek in Beaver Township will be replaced by PennDOT crews in 2017. A detour will be required.
— The Fenstermaker Railroad Bridge carrying Olean Trail (SR 2005) over the abandoned Conrail tracks will be removed and replaced with fill. This will require a detour and will be carried out in 2017 or 2018 at a cost of $1 million to $2.5 million.
— Lawsonham Bridge Number One carrying Lawsonham Road (SR 2009) over Redbank Creek in Madison Township will be replaced in 2017 by the P-3 partnership. A detour will be required.
— The Elder Road Bridge carrying Cherry Run Road (SR 2009) over Cherry Run in Licking Township will be replaced in 2017 by the P-3 partnership. A detour will be required.
— The Huefner Bridge Number Three carrying Old Fryburg Road (SR 4015) over Licking/Paint Creek in Knox Township will be replaced in 2017 by the P-3 partnership. A detour will be required.
Planned for 2018
— The Kahle Bridge carrying Master Road (SR 3020) over I-80 in Richland Township will be replaced in 2018 at a cost of $2.5 million to $5 million. A detour will be required.
— Stone House Bridge Number One carrying Greenville Avenue (SR 1007) over Brush Run will be replaced in 2018 at a cost of $1 million to $2.5 million. This will be phased construction with no detour needed.
— Olean Trail Bridge Number One carrying Olean Trail over Jack Run in Porter Township will be replaced in 2018 by Penn DOT crews. A detour will be required.
— Kissingers Mill Bridge Number One carrying Kissingers Mill Road (SR 3004) over Catfish Run in Madison Township will be replaced in 2018 at a cost of $1 million to $2.5 million. A detour will be required.
Planned for 2019
— Mineral Run Bridge carrying Route 58 over Mineral Run in Sligo Borough will be replaced in 2019 at a cost of $1 million to $2.5 million. This will be phased construction with no detour needed.
— Turnip Hole Bridge Number Three carrying Route 58 over McMichael Run in Licking Township will be rehabilitated in 2019 at a cost of $500,000 to $1 million.
— South Leatherwood Bridge carrying Route 861 over Leatherwood Creek in Porter Township will be replaced in 2019 at a cost of $1 million to $2.5 million.
— Hodil Run Bridge carrying Route 58 over Hodil Run in Sligo will replaced at an unknown time, with engineering work carried out in 2018. The project is not yet funded and is expected to cost $500,000 to $1 million.
— Jack Run Bridge carrying South Reidsburg Road (SR 2003) over Jack Run in Porter Township will be replaced at an unknown time, with engineering work carried out in 2018. The project is not yet funded and is expected to cost $500,000 to $1 million.
— Curllsville Bridge Number Two carrying Curllsville Road (SR 2007) over Licking Creek in Monroe Township will be replaced at an unknown time, with engineering work carried out in 2019. The project is not yet funded and is expected to cost $1 million to $2.5 million.
