Lehigh River-Pohopoco Creek Bridges
Construction Update: May 22, 2009

Drilling Under Way for Pohopoco Creek Bridge Pier Foundations

New approach roadway also under construction on top side

Construction crews are drilling deep shafts for the foundations of piers that will support the new bridges that will carry the Pennsylvania Turnpike's Northeastern Extension (I-476) over the Pohopoco Creek in Parryville, Carbon County.

Foundations for the six northbound and six southbound supports are being sunk as deep as 58-feet below the surface into the hillsides on both sides of the creek. Foundation shafts also will be drilled this summer in the creek itself from the temporary causeways that were constructed in February across the streambed.

The deep shafts (7.5 to 11.5 feet in diameter) will anchor the foundations to the bedrock and then be filled with reinforced concrete to provide a solid footing for the new bridges. Once the foundations are in place, crews will then build formwork that will shape the pier stems that will rise more than 100 feet above the creek to support the superstructures of the twin spans.

Drilling for pier foundations for the bridges over the Lehigh River is expected to begin this summer as well, after restrictions on in-stream activity are lifted. To provide a work platform for construction activities for those twin bridges, temporary causeways will be built in the Lehigh this summer too.

Activities up top
On the Turnpike’s main-line high above the creek and river, excavation on the rock wall along the northbound shoulder near the Mahoning Valley Interchange (Exit 74) has been completed. The wall was scaled back so that the northbound roadway can be temporarily widened to allow traffic to be shifted to the east side of the highway.  The shift will allow crews to complete additional excavation and construction of new northbound and southbound approaches to the new bridges.

The excavation also will require construction of a retaining wall to support the embankment on the west side of the Turnpike where the new bridges will be located.

Work also is underway on the topside on both sides of the Turnpike to install the storm-water drainage system – inlets, piping, retention areas – for the new bridges. The existing box culvert adjacent to the northbound slope also currently is being extended as part of the  drainage work.

The work zone is located approximately two miles north of the Lehigh Tunnel, between mile markers 73 and 75.

The work is part of Stage 1 construction on the $101.56 million contract to replace the separate northbound and southbound bridges carrying the Northeastern Extension (I-476) over the Lehigh River and Pohopoco Creek.


Traffic Impacts

• Periodic daytime and nighttime lane closures may occur on the Turnpike.
• Watch for slow moving construction vehicles entering and exiting the Turnpike.
• A permanent shoulder closure is in place on Route 248 westbound from Parryville to the existing overhead Turnpike bridge.
• Daytime lane closures also may be in effect on Route 248.

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