CLEARFIELD – Starting today, PennDOT will post new or lowered weight limits on three more bridges in Clearfield County. Signs bearing the weight limits will be in place for all three bridges by the end of the work day Friday.
The bridges are:
- Route 453 near the village of Olanta, spanning Little Clearfield Creek. It will be posted for 35 tons for single vehicles and 40 tons for combination vehicles. The bridge was built in 1937 and carries an average of 812 vehicles daily.
- Route 2007 (Blue Ball Road) in West Decatur, spanning Laurel Run. It will be posted for 34 tons for single vehicles and 40 tons for combination vehicles. The bridge was built in 1915 and carries an average of almost 1,300 vehicles daily.
- Route 3009 (McGees Mills Road), about two miles southeast of the village of Troutville, spanning the East Branch of Mahoning Creek. Its posting will be lowered to 15 tons for single vehicles and 18 tons for combination vehicles. The bridge was built in 1938 and carries an average of 270 vehicles daily.
Reducing the weight traveling on these bridges will slow their deterioration and preserve safety while funding for repairs remains uncertain.
In August, PennDOT Secretary Barry J. Schoch authorized the transportation department to add or increase weight restrictions to about 1,000 structurally deficient bridges statewide. PennDOT must take this step because of legislative inaction this past June on transportation funding, leaving the department’s future resources in question.
To view the bridges with new or lowered weight restrictions or to learn more about bridge weight restrictions and PennDOT’s bridge-inspection program, visit the PennDOT homepage at www.dot.state.pa.us and click on “Bridge Information.”