Pier Construction Set to Get Underway for New Turnpike Bridge Over Pohopoco Creek

Crews, working on temporary causeways that were built on both sides of the Pohopoco Creek earlier this month, will begin construction in April on support piers for the new bridge that will carry the Pennsylvania Turnpike's Northeast Extension over the creek in Parryville, Carbon County.

The work is part of early-stage construction on the $101.56 million contract to replace the separate northbound and southbound bridges carrying the Pennsylvania Turnpike's Northeast Extension (I-476) over the Lehigh River and Pohopoco Creek. The replacement bridges are being constructed immediately upstream of the existing spans.

Work is currently focused on excavation and clearing operations on both sides of the Lehigh River and the adjacent Pohopoco Creek. Construction will begin in mid-April on foundations for the six piers that will support each of the new twin bridges -- separate northbound and southbound structures -- over the Pohopoco Creek.

Pier construction for the bridges over the Lehigh River will begin in June, after in-stream activity restrictions are lifted. Temporary causeways will be built in the Lehigh at that time to provide a construction platform for in-stream piers.

Temporary construction barrier also has been set along the shoulder of the Turnpike.  The barrier will allow a variety of construction activities -- including surveying, excavation and soil testing -- to take place in the work zone, which is located approximately two miles north of the Lehigh Tunnel, between mile markers 73 and 75.

Crews also are beginning operations to scale back the rock wall along the southbound lanes to accommodate the new alignment of the Turnpike at the new bridges.


Traffic Impacts

• Daytime lane closures between 6 a.m. and 6 p.m. may occur on the Turnpike in March. Night shift operations and related lane closures also may begin in March to install temporary construction barrier on the Turnpike.
• A permanent shoulder closure also will be installed on Route 248 westbound from Parryville to the existing Turnpike bridge overhead.
• Daytime lane closures also may be in effect on Route 248.
   

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