Construction to begin next month on I-76 bridges

Commuters who travel along Interstate 76, proceed with caution. The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation announced today that repairs will begin two bridges near the University Avenue Interchange on March 10.

There will be lane closures and traffic pattern changes as the agency mends the steel-beam bridge over the Schuylkill River and CSX railroad tracks and the 16-span bridge over Grays Ferry Avenue and 34th Street.

Lane closures will occur during the overnight hours - 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. during the week and 11 p.m. to 8 a.m. on the weekends. The road will also be reduced to one lane on six weekends this year and next year. PennDOT is suggesting using the Vine Street Expressway and Interstates 476 and 95 as alternates.

It will take 19 months to complete the projects.

The $23,949,427 million project was described as "rehabilitation," by PennDOT spokesman Eugene J. Blaum.

"There is a significant amount of work that will be done," Blaum said.

Portions of the driving surface will be replaced, as will steel beams and deck joints.

There has been a lot of corrosion damage over the years and the bridge over the Schuylkill is structurally deficient, explained Chuck Davies, Assistant District Executive for Design.

"It is one of the largest structures we have in that category in our district," he said.

Once the rehabilitation is complete, the bridge should provide "between 20 to 30 years of additional service," Davies said.

The project is scheduled to continue through October 2009.