August 24, 2016
An article was published in the Bradford Era about a public meeting held in Smethport on August 22.
Bridge replacement projects in Keating and Bradford townships are slated to begin soon.
Andy Dressler, traffic/public information coordinator for the Pennsylvania Rapid Bridge Replacement Project for Walsh/Granite JV, a joint venture team leading construction, conducted a pre-construction coordination meeting Monday afternoon at the Keating Township offices in East Smethport.
Dressler said the Columbia Hill Road Bridge construction over the northern branch of Cole Creek will tentatively begin Sept. 6 and continue for five weeks. This existing steel I-beam structure is to be replaced with a 49-foot folded steel plate girder bridge.
The detour will be 12.43 miles.
Thursday is the tentative date for work to begin on the Sullivan Road Bridge on SR 4011 which spans Bennett Brook in Bradford Township. Early November is the expected date of completion.
“This 75-day detour is 1.11 miles," Dressler said.
It usually takes the traveling public about a week to settle on alternate routes around the construction, Dressler added.
He said these two projects are a part of the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation's Rapid Bridge Replacement Program, a public-private partnership that was awarded to the consortium of Plenary Walsh Keystone Partners. This is an initiative to replace 558 aging bridges across the state. Many of the bridges are in rural areas.
Plenary Walsh Keystone Partners will finance, design, construct and maintain the bridges for 28 years.
Standardized designs are being used for all 558 bridges to be replaced.
PWKP is composed of both local and world renown companies with experience in major public infrastructure works.
"Eleven different Pennsylvania companies, such as Francis J. Palo Inc. of Clarion and Glenn O. Hawbaker Inc. of State College have already been subcontracted for much of the work," stated Dressler.
"This overall project is unique and is being watched across the country," he added.
Dressler outlined some of the extensive planning and study that go into each individual bridge project. "The volume of traffic is considered, along with environmental issues, impact on residents and businesses, concerns of property owners and on-site inspections. Then there is coordination with emergency services, school districts and post offices."