News

July 9, 2009

Pittston Township detour in place for bridge project

By Andrew M. Seder aseder@timesleader.com
Times Leader Staff Writer
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PITTSTON TWP. – The bridge carrying Bear Creek Road/Suscon Road over the Pennsylvania Turnpike’s Northeast Extension is closed and a detour has been established for those wishing to connect with state Route 315.

The 60-year-old bridge in Pittston Township will be demolished July 26 as part of a $2.6 million project. A new bridge should be open to traffic by Nov. 20, according to turnpike commission spokeswoman Mimi Lindelow.

A 3.4-mile detour was established Monday for drivers trying to head west on Suscon Road toward Route 315. Motorists are being directed south on Armstrong Road and asked to follow signs that will get them to 315 in Jenkins Township.

For motorists who are planning on traveling the Northeast Extension between the Clarks Summit (Exit 131) and Wyoming Valley (Exit 115) interchanges on July 26 from 12:01 a.m. to 6 a.m., they will also be detoured to I-81 as crews from Susquehanna Valley Construction Co. of New Cumberland bring down the bridge.

The date of the bridge demolition is tentative, Lindelow said, as rainy weather has wreaked havoc with construction schedules this summer. Originally, the demolition was set for this Sunday but was delayed two weeks.

Though Lindelow said the bridge “is structurally fine” she said some work was needed. The turnpike commission opted to demolish the bridge, “because sometimes it’s cheaper to replace a bridge than repair it.”

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