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| COMMISSION NEWS RELEASE | |||||
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| Northeastern Extension Bridge Elimination Project begins this Month in Luzerne County Staged construction to impact traffic on I-476 near Wyoming Valley exit through November. |
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| The Pennsylvania Turnpike advises motorists that construction will begin this month for the elimination of the mainline bridge on the Northeastern Extension (I-476) in Jenkins Township, Luzerne County. The bridge is located at milepost A113 approximately 2 miles south of the Wyoming Valley Interchange (Exit #115) and 8 miles north of the Wilkes-Barre Interchange (Exit #105); it carries the Turnpike over an abandoned access road. Some utility relocation work began earlier this month and continues underneath the Turnpike. Advance warning signs and traffic-control devices were installed last week alerting Turnpike motorists to future construction activities. Road-Con Inc. of West Chester, Pa., was awarded the $1.1 million contract to eliminate the bridge on July 18. The work to remove the existing deck and superstructure will be done in three stages to maintain Turnpike traffic at all times. Weather permitting, stage-one work will begin the week of Sept. 24 with the installation of temporary concrete barrier establishing a safe work zone between milepost A112 and A114. Stage one will include work to reconstruct the shoulders and stabilize the embankment near the bridge which will require single-lane closures and reduced daytime speeds of 55 or 40 mph. The work for the stage two and three will require traffic to be reduced to one lane in each direction in early October for 160 continuous hours from a Friday to the following Friday. Specific dates and times will be announced before the restriction is put into place. During each stage, the contractor will implement traffic paces with periodic stoppages of no more than 15 minutes to remove the beams. Additional work includes placement of fill beneath the existing span, construction of bituminous pavement throughout the removed span, relocation of utilities and installation of guiderail and fencing. The work is weather-dependent and the schedule subject to change. The expected completion date is Nov. 2. The Turnpike advises motorists traveling the Northeastern Extension (I-476) between the Wyoming Valley and Wilkes-Barre exits to be prepared for single-lane restrictions, slow-moving paces with stoppages and reduced speeds. Motorists are urged to use caution and obey posted speed limits. Travelers can get Turnpike traffic alerts by calling 866-976-TRIP (8747) or visiting the live Travel Conditions Map online at www.paturnpike.com/webmap. The Turnpike’s smartphone app, TRIP Talk, streams audio advisories to iPhone and Droid users so they can keep their hands on the wheel and eyes on the road. To download the free app, visit www.paturnpike.com/triptalk. |
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