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SUGAR NOTCH — A nearly $4 million bridge rehabilitation project is expected to cause traffic delays for motorists, truckers and those working in Hanover Industrial Estates for more than a year-and-a-half.
The bridge crossing state Route 29 near Sugar Notch and the east entrance to the industrial park is being replaced by Minichi, Inc., of Dupont.
A temporary traffic signal directing traffic to one lane crossing the bridge is expected to begin Dec. 4 and last to an expected completion date of July 2021.
The bridge is heavily used by tractor-trailer drivers and employees of various businesses and warehouses in the industrial park to access Interstate 81 from Route 29.
According to project supervisor Jeffrey Novitski, the bridge is being replaced with new beams and a deck on existing abutments. The bridge will be down to one lane controlled by traffic signals that will allow construction crews to remove and replace half the beams and deck.
When one side is complete, traffic will be diverted to the new deck lane and crews will finish the other half.
Preparation work began several weeks ago as concrete islands were removed and utility lines were relocated. Several trees were also removed.
Nearly 150 trucks and 5,200 vehicles cross over the bridge daily, according to a vehicle count study conducted in September 2018.