PennDOT reveals plans to build bridge in Point Marion
POINT MARION – The state Department of Transportation will begin construction on a new bridge to connect the borough with Dunkard Township, Greene County, in the spring of 2005. And, preliminary plans show the new bridge will require the acquisition of some property, including Jordan’s Auto Parts and the post office, both in downtown Point Marion.
PennDOT officials displayed the plans to about 30 residents during a public hearing Wednesday at the Point Marion Fire Hall. The bridge, which carries Route 88 over the Monongahela River, linking Fayette and Greene counties, is in such poor condition that PennDOT restricted traffic on the it to vehicles 3 tons or less.
“Our inspectors are required to inspect the bridges once every two years or more,” said PennDOT project manager Steve Hvizda. “Our inspectors went out and found the floor system in the existing bridge and the connections with the beams holding the floor system up so bad that we had to immediately post the bridge and prepare for an emergency plan…for additional support.”
The emergency plan, to be funded by a $500,000 emergency grant secured by state Rep. Bill DeWeese and state Sen. J. Barry Stout, already has entered the bidding process, and repairs will allow the bridge to support 30-ton vehicles.
“The bridge is safe at 3 tons, but it is an inconvenience for trucks,” Hvizda said.
Tom Brado, assistant district engineer for PennDOT, said the emergency project will be finished in June.
Linda Zug of McCormick, Taylor and Associates, sub-consultants for the replacement project, said two proposed alternatives show a new bridge 400 feet north of the existing span. The new bridge essentially will carry Route 88 over the river to connect with Penn Street (Route 119), where PennDOT will install a traffic light. The current bridge aligns with Home Street.
The difference between the two alternatives relates to access to the bridge from the Greene County side.
In one alternative, a new bridge approach would be built, with a four-way intersection providing access to Route 88 north of the bridge, Walnut Hill Road to the east and Power Plant Road to the south. The second proposal provides a direct connection to Route 88, maintaining continuous traffic movement.
According to Hvizda, the construction will affect about 15 properties. He noted that PennDOT met with the landowners earlier in the day Wednesday to discuss the changes. He also said building the new bridge at the existing site was deemed impossible, because the detour during construction would be more than 20 miles long, forcing motorists north to use the Masontown Bridge to cross the river.
“We have been looking at alternatives to replace the bridge, because the current bridge cannot be repaired up to today’s structural standards,” Zug said.
She said the existing bridge does not meet PennDOT’s design criteria or safety requirements and does not encourage direct and efficient access to the Point Marion business district.
“It would be way too expensive to fix it. The new bridge is planned to go across the river, connect to Penn Street and make a brand new four-way intersection so that the downtown is more logically connected.”
Zug said the proposed bridge is wider for motorists’ safety, with shoulders on both sides and a walking path along one side, and is 800 to 1,000 feet long. Zug said that while the project remains in the preliminary stages, construction should begin in 2005 and be completed within two years. She added that the existing bridge will be open during construction, thus keeping traffic inconvenience to a minimum.
Zug said the total construction cost is not yet determined.
“They are looking at seven to 10 million in total construction costs, depending on the structure type. They have not decided on what kind of structure type at this time because they are still dealing with the (U.S. Army) Corps of Engineers and the Coast Guard for the barge traffic that use the river,” she said.