A bridge project designed to provide safer, more efficient access across St. Johns Creek in Old Forge should enter the construction phase in the spring of 2028, PennDOT officials said.
The work will also address the structural deficiency of the bridge located on Route 3011 (Milwaukee Road), according to the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation.
The existing single-span, concrete T-beam bridge with a bituminous overlay on masonry abutments will be replaced with a prestressed composite spread box beam bridge with an epoxy-based surface treatment on integral abutments, PennDOT officials said. Additional work will include approach roadway reconstruction, grading, signing and pavement markings.
The reconstructed roadway and structure will accommodate two 12-foot lanes, state officials said.
Pennsylvania Department of Transportation
Construction work will be performed in a way to keep the bridge partially open to traffic. However, there will be a seven-day maximum detour put in place for beam delivery, beam installation and any other construction-related activities that will require the road to be completely closed, PennDOT officials said. Mountain Road will remain open to local traffic for the duration of the detour.
The first phase of construction will implement one-way traffic on the western side of the bridge, while the second phase will have one-way traffic on the eastern side of the bridge, state officials said. The one-way traffic will be implemented using an alternating traffic pattern controlled by temporary signals. Work should be finished by the summer of 2028, officials said.
Community members may submit questions and concerns to PennDOT officials during the public comment period through Sept. 2 at pa.gov/agencies/penndot/projects-near-you/district-4-projects. A virtual look at the plans will also be available online up to that date, state officials said.