CLEARFIELD – Effective this past Friday, PennDOT has posted new weight limits on two more bridges in Centre County. Signs bearing the weight limits are now in place. The bridges are:
Route 26 is about a half-mile southeast of the borough of Howard, spanning Lick Run. It is now posted for 36 tons for single vehicles and 40 tons for combination vehicles. The bridge was built in 1925 and carries an average of almost 2,700 vehicles daily.
Route 45 (Penns Valley Road) is over Pine Creek, just west of the village of Woodward in Haines Township. It is now posted for 33 tons for single vehicles and 40 tons for combination vehicles. The bridge was built in 1930 and carries an average of over 2,300 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.”
