KARTHAUS – The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) is reminding motorists that repair work to the Karthaus Truss bridge will require a three-week closure and detour, starting Monday, Sept. 13.
The bridge spans the west branch of the Susquehanna River on Route 879 in the village of Karthaus. The steel truss bridge is 410 feet long, dates from 1937, and carries an average of 1,050 vehicles each day.
Upon closer inspection, repair plans for the bridge deck have been expanded. Overall work now includes hydro demolition of the existing surface, pressure washing and application of a latex overlay to provide a longer-term repair solution and improve the longevity of the deck.
The cure time for a latex overlay is longer than that of an epoxy overlay and closing the bridge to traffic will help ensure a high-quality result.
A 35-mile detour around the closure will use Route 879, Route 1011 (Rolling Stone Road), Route 53 and Route 144. The detour will begin on Sept. 13 and last through Oct. 1.
Francis J. Palo Inc. of Clarion, Pa., is the contractor for this $1.15 million contract. PennDOT reminds drivers to follow official detour signs, use caution in and around work zones, obey posted speed limits and always buckle up.
Motorists are encouraged to “Know Before They Go” by checking conditions on more than 40,000 roadway miles by visiting www.511PA.com.
511PA, which is free and available 24 hours a day, provides traffic delay warnings, weather forecasts, traffic speed information and access to more than 1,000 traffic cameras.
511PA is also available through a smartphone application for iPhone and Android devices, by calling 5-1-1, or by following regional Twitter alerts accessible on the 511PA Web site.
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