PennDOT Wrapping up Hectic Year Capped with Major Flood-Recovery Effort

In addition to scheduled road work this year, PennDOT crews also repaired flood-damaged roads and bridges after Hurricane Irene and Tropical Storm Lee ravaged the area.

Montoursville - PennDOT Engineering District 3-0, serving nine north central Pennsylvania counties, is wrapping up a year that included an average construction season of road and bridge activities, capped by an extraordinary amount of flood-recovery work prompted by September's flooding.

The planned-for contract construction season included some 90 contracts valued at nearly $84 million, along with two major carryovers from the previous year (I-80 Mifflinville bridges and the DuBoistown Bridge replacement). And then the late summer floods hit.

Between Hurricane Irene and Tropical Storm Lee, the district sustained more than $50 million in damage to state roads and bridges, prompting the district to shift into overdrive to develop another four dozen contracts under emergency conditions to facilitate a massive flood-recovery effort.

Accomplishing that overwhelming task required a dedication well above and beyond the call of duty, which the district office and county employees met head-on. By mid-December, 98 percent of the emergency contracts had been put out for bids.

Meanwhile, by that time, department forces had completed flood-recovery repairs at more than 1,400 of the 1,500 damage sites assigned to their workloads. At the height of the flooding, more than 250 state roads were closed by flooding in the district.

As of late December, only seven remained closed to traffic. While the flood recovery efforts in the district will continue well into 2012, the district has accomplished a significant level of achievement on top of its normal duties.

Below are the major projects that were under construction this year, by county:

Columbia County
(SR 80-078) An Interstate 80 rehabilitation project between exits 241 and 242 in the Mifflinville area. The project includes replacement of the westbound Susquehanna River Bridge, superstructure (deck & beams) replacement of the eastbound Susquehanna River Bridge, rehabilitation work on several other bridges, and reconstruction of the pavement within the project limits. The project started in 2010 and scheduled for completion in 2015. The construction cost is $50 million.

(SR 80-M28) An Interstate 80 drainage project along 4.5-miles between exits 236 and 241 in the Lightstreet area. The project included reconstruction and repairs to the drainage system beneath the shoulders. Work is completed. The construction cost was $2 million.

(SR 42-56M) SR 42 resurfacing project from SR 4009 (Millville Road) north of Buckhorn to Hill Road in Millville. The 7-mile long project included base repairs, milling and resurfacing, drainage improvements and bridge preservation work. Work is completed. The construction cost was $2.4 million.

Lycoming County
(SR 87-078) SR 87 Tropical Storm Lee flood-recovery repairs. The work included emergency and permanent repairs, debris and deposition removal, excavation, pipe-culvert cleaning, drainage improvements, guiderail upgrades, and new blacktop pavement at the flood-damaged roadway along 1.2 miles just north of Route 973 near Slabtown, and a half-mile section in the vicinity of Best Beach, several miles north of Montoursville. Work is completed. The construction cost was $1.8 million.

(SR 15-M35) SR 15 reconstruction project from Exit 29 of I-180 to Third Street in Williamsport. The project included concrete pavement rehabilitation, reconstruction of six ramps, five bridge rehabilitations and resurfacing, replacement of highway lighting and two overhead sign structures. All work is completed except for the overhead sign structures. The construction cost is $7.1 million.

(SR 2064-004) The DuBoistown (Arch Street) Bridge replacement project over the Susquehanna River between DuBoistown and Williamsport. The project includes replacement of the existing 7-span bridge on an alignment adjacent to the existing bridge. In 2012 there will be a six-month detour to construct the new roadway approaches. Work started in 2010, with the new bridge to be opened late in 2012 and completion of all work in 2013. The construction cost is $18 million.

(SR 15-116) SR 15 Montgomery Pike resurfacing and safety improvement project; under this first of three separate contracts work was from B&C Auto Wreckers to the PennDOT stockpile atop Bald Eagle Mountain near South Williamsport. Work included installing center concrete median barrier, intersection improvements, resurfacing, and improvements at the US 15/Old Montgomery Pike Road intersection. Work is completed. The construction cost was $2.7 million.

(SR 3003-001) The Silver Bridge rehabilitation over Pine Creek south of Jersey Shore. The project included rehabilitation and strengthening of the Silver Bridge, a historic lenticular truss. Work began in 2008, with the new bridge opened to traffic earlier this month. The construction cost was $5.3 million.

(SR 118-006) SR 118 bridge replacement project over Little Muncy Creek in Franklin Township, east of Lairdsville. The project included replacement of the bridge on the existing alignment with reconstructed roadway approaches. Work is completed. The construction cost was $2 million.

Snyder County
(SR 11-96M) SR 11/15 resurfacing project along 2.7 miles of "The Strip" from Tedd's Landing in Shamokin Dam to south of 16th Street in Monroe Township. The project included milling and resurfacing, curbing, guiderail and traffic signal upgrades. The work is completed. The construction cost was $2.9 million.

Sullivan County
(SR 487-066) SR 487 replacement of the Loyalsock Creek Bridge at Lopez damaged during Hurricane Irene. The new bridge was opened to traffic on Dec. 23. Final paving and an epoxy overlay of the bridge deck will take place in the spring of 2012 when the weather improves, along with other weather-sensitive items like final grading and seeding. Construction cost is $1.8 million.

Union County
(SR 15-M49) SR 15 resurfacing project from Route 192 in Lewisburg to Zeigler Road in Kelly Township. The project includes base repairs, milling and resurfacing along 4.3 miles of highway, guiderail upgrade, and turning radius improvements at North Fourth Street in Lewisburg. Work is completed. Construction cost was $2.3 million.

Bradford County
(SR 328-023) SR 328 bridge replacement project over Seely Creek in Wells Township, just south of the New York state line. The project includes replacement of the existing bridge on the current alignment, with reconstructed roadway approaches and new guiderail. The new bridge opened to traffic in November, with all work to be completed by spring of 2012. Construction cost is $2.3 million.

(SR 467-008) SR 467 soil slide repair project between Wood Joyce Road and Harmony Hill Road in Rome Township. The project included excavation, drainage improvements, excavation support and protection system, resurfacing and guiderail along 800 feet of roadway. Work is completed. Construction cost was $2.1 million.

(SR 4014-19M) SR 4014 (Milan Road) highway restoration project from Laurel Hill Road to Buck Creek in Smithfield Township. The project included joint repairs, pipe replacements, resurfacing and guiderail upgrades along 1.9 miles. Work is completed. Construction cost was $2.2 million.

For more information, visit www.dot.state.pa.us\district3<http://www.dot.state.pa.us/district3>  or call (570) 368-8686.