Work on Liberty Township bridge replacement to start Monday

CLEAFIELD, PA – PennDOT has announced a start date of Monday, March 20, for a bridge replacement project along Route 1002, the March Creek Road, in Liberty Township, Center County.

Replacing the bridge, which spans Marsh Creek approximately one-mile northeast of Romola, will allow PennDOT to remove a weight limit posting of 26 tons for single vehicles and improve the structure’s rating from “poor” to “good.”

Starting Monday the contractor will begin cutting trees within the work area. Flaggers in the roadway will provide traffic control, so drivers should expect some delays during daylight hours through Friday, March 25.

The contractor plans to demolish the existing bridge on or around Friday, June 2, and will implement a detour using Route 1001 (Howard Divide Road) and Route 150. PennDOT will update drivers before the contractor implements the detour.

Overall work includes the removal of the existing bridge, building its replacement, approach paving, guide rail installation, drainage improvements, pavement marking, and miscellaneous construction. Nestlerode Contracting Co. of Lock Haven is the contractor on this $2.6 million project. PennDOT anticipates completion in mid-September, but all work is weather dependent.

Built in 1953, the existing bridge is 98 feet long and carries an average of 437 vehicles daily.