Construction operations on the historic Sugarcreek truss bridge have been temporarily halted due to instability in the ground where a crane was set to lift the bridge.
Plans were to bring in a crane Friday to lift and move the bridge to solid ground where it could be more readily disassembled.
Once the operations started Friday, project contractors Allison Park Contractors of Gibsonia noticed instability in the ground at the bridge abutment and determined it wasn’t safe to operate the crane.
“Because of the instability issue, the contractor decided to pull the crane out,” said Jim Carroll, Penn DOT’s press officer for District 1.
Members of the construction unit and the contractors plan to meet Monday to review options to safely remove the bridge, Carroll said.
The $1.5 million project is calling for a complete restoration of the bridge.
Despite the hiccup in the removal of the bridge, Carroll is confident the structure will still be finished by its initial November completion date.
The truss bridge has been deemed a historic structure by the Pennsylvania State Historic Preservation Office.
Built in 1920 by Groton Bridge Co. of Groton, New York, the riveted truss bridge is one of many used on Pennsylvania highways since the 1890s and still sees heavy traffic.
The bridge is used by about 1,000 vehicles a day when it is open.
When construction resumes, it will include moving the bridge to solid ground, disassembling, galvanizing, replacing and reassembling the truss members and replacing the existing deck.
A new concrete deck and barriers will be set after the truss has been placed on its newly installed bearings.
The deck will receive an epoxy surface treatment after the concrete has cured.
