CLEARFIELD – Clearfield County bridge rehabilitation work is continuing, with work on a Route 153 bridge near Houtzdale set to start this week.
When work is complete, PennDOT will remove the bridge from Clearfield County’s structurally deficient list. The repairs will also allow area drivers to enjoy safer travel on a bridge that will remain in service for many years to come.
The Route 153 Bridge is located two miles south of Houtzdale and spans White Side Run. The bridge was built in 1931, is 34 feet long and carries more than 2,300 vehicles each day.
Temporary traffic signals were put in place on May 15 and are in flash mode. When rehabilitation work starts Tuesday, the signals will be fully operational, enforcing an alternating traffic pattern. Work will continue into the summer.
The White Side Run bridge is one of five structures on a $1.8 million bridge preservation contract. The other bridges include two on Route 255 southwest of Penfield.
One spans Bennett Branch and the other spans Heath Run. The temporary signals have been removed from these work zones. Paving on these two bridges will take place Monday during daylight hours. An alternating traffic pattern will be controlled by flaggers during the paving operation.
Work is also continuing on a Route 253 bridge near the village of Allemans, with temporary traffic signals in use through mid-June. The fifth bridge is on Route 729 Bridge near Kerrmor. Work on this bridge is expected to start later this spring.
Swank Construction Company of New Kensington is the contractor on this project. Overall work includes substructure and superstructure repairs, new guide rail, and paving. All work is weather and schedule dependent.
Drivers are reminded to use caution through all construction zones, obey posted speed limits, and always buckle up.
Motorists can check conditions on major roadways 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 680 traffic cameras. 511PA is also available by calling 5-1-1, and regional Twitter alerts are available on the 511PA Web site.
Follow PennDOT on Twitter at www.twitter.com/511PAStateCOLL.
