PennDOT aims for September 25 opening for one-lane traffic on Flemington Bridge

FLEMINGTON, PA – Local officials have learned that PennDOT hopes to have one-lane, traffic-light controlled traffic resume on the closed Flemington Bridge before the end of September.

The Record has learned that the state highway agency hopes to have a partial bridge reopening by Monday, Sept. 25. A delegation from PennDOT met with local authorities on Thursday to provide an update on the delayed repair project which carries a heavy volume of Route 150 traffic from Lock Haven/Flemington onto Hogan Boulevard in Bald Eagle Township.

A PennDOT representative from the district office in Clearfield confirmed to The Record that Monday, Sept. 25 is the “new goal for reopening a lane under temporary signals.” He said a formal release on the new timeline is to follow soon.

Originally PennDOT had announced the bridge, earlier limited to traffic light-controlled one-lane traffic, would be shut down to through traffic for the month of June but it was determined that additional work would be needed, thus the extended shutdown; now nearing the three-month mark.

A later goal was to have one-lane traffic available before the start of Keystone Central School District classes on Aug. 30, but that date will not be met. Officials of the district have made alternate plans for transporting bus students to schools affected by the bridge closure.

The state highway agency had announced the closure in May, necessary in order to tarp the bridge and perform painting and structural steel repairs. PennDOT says the painting and repairs will improve the condition of the bridge from fair to good and keep it in useful service for years to come. The Flemington structure dates from 1933 and is 250 feet long. It carries an average of more than 13,400 vehicles each day.