The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) announced today that preliminary work on a bridge rehabilitation job in Elk County will start May 3. The bridge spans Dents Run on Route 555 in Benezette Township. Replacing the superstructure of the bridge will improve its condition rating. The existing bridge was built in 1940, is 66-feet long and carries an average of more than 700 vehicles daily. Starting Monday, crews will be working to mobilize equipment, install erosion and sediment controls, and begin construction of a temporary roadway.

Once work replacing the superstructure of the bridge begins, drivers will use a temporary roadway to move through the work zone in an alternating traffic pattern. The traffic pattern will be controlled by temporary traffic signals. PennDOT will issue an update on this project as traffic impacts occur.

Superstructure replacement work will consist of construction of concrete abutment caps, placement of spread box beams, and placement of a new bridge deck and parapets.

Work on this project will be done in accordance with Centers for Disease Control and state Department of Health guidance as well as a project-specific COVID-19 safety plan. The plan includes protocols for social distancing, use of face coverings, personal and job site cleaning protocols, management of entries to the job site and relevant training.

The contractor on this $1 million job is Wolyniec Construction, Inc. of Williamsport, PA. Work will take place through September and is weather and schedule dependent. PennDOT reminds drivers to use caution in 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 website.   Subscribe to PennDOT news in Cameron, Centre, Clearfield, Clinton, Elk, Juniata, McKean, Mifflin, and Potter counties at www.penndot.gov/District2.

For regional updates on Twitter, follow www.twitter.com/511PAStateCOLL

MEDIA CONTACT:  Marla Fannin 814-360-3013, Timothy Nebgen (814) 360-3838

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