Category: News || By Staff Report

State officials will hold a public hearing Tuesday in Elizabeth Township to discuss the upcoming rehabilitation of the Boston Bridge.

The meeting begins at 6 p.m. at the Boston Spectrum, 6001 E. Smithfield St., says Jim Struzzi, district spokesman for the state Department of Transportation. PennDOT representatives will be available to answer questions, along with representatives of the Trumbull Corp. of Pittsburgh, prime contractor on the $17.3 million project.

Built in 1931, the 1,182-foot span is one of nearly 6,000 statewide that were rated "structurally deficient" in 2005. About 17,000 vehicles daily use the bridge, which carries state Route 48 over the Youghiogheny River between Versailles and Elizabeth Township.

Work begins Sept. 13 to replace beams, bearings and expansion joints; the steel and concrete bridge deck; and the sidewalks and railings, Struzzi says. Other work will include repair of broken or damaged concrete on the foundations and abutments.

Besides carrying cars and trucks, the bridge is popular with joggers and hikers. It serves as a link between the six-mile McKeesport-Versailles "LOOP" trail with the Great Allegheny Passage trail.

According to Struzzi, throughout the project, two lanes will remain open weekdays during morning (5 to 9 a.m.) and afternoon (3 to 7 p.m.) rush hours. However, lanes will be restricted to 11 feet wide and the bridge will be closed to northbound traffic (from Elizabeth Township into Versailles) every night, beginning at 7 p.m.

In addition, periodic closures of both lanes may take place for 15 minutes at a time, Struzzi says.

The posted detour takes trucks over Route 48 to Route 51, then to Route 837 and the McKeesport-Duquesne Bridge, onto Route 148 through the city. Cars will be sent over Route 48 to Finney Road, Liberty Way, Washington Boulevard, Rebecca Street, West Fifth Avenue, the Jerome Avenue Bridge and Walnut Street, back to Route 48.

Work is scheduled to wrap up in late 2011, Struzzi says.

. . .

McKeesport-Duquesne Bridge Inspection Underway: In other news, crews are performing routine inspections of the McKeesport-Duquesne Bridge through next Friday, weather permitting. All ramps will remain open.

The work is being performed by Mackin Engineering and Sofis Rigging Co., Struzzi says. Motorists are advised to use caution, slow down, and be prepared for changing traffic patterns. No work will be done on Labor Day, Struzzi says.

. . .

Route 51 Crack Sealing: Finally, Struzzi notes that PennDOT crews are currently sealing cracks in Route 51 between Rostraver Township and West Elizabeth.

The work is being done by Matcon Diamond Inc. of Pittsburgh's South Side between the hours of 6 p.m. and 6 a.m., he says. Crews will be using slow-moving trucks and some traffic restrictions are possible.

Weather permitting, the crack-sealing operation will wrap up by Sept. 17.

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