Winter Construction Progress Made on New Lehigh River Bridge Piers

Despite the challenges presented by the heavy snowfalls and biting cold of the past winter, crews made steady progress in January and February drilling shafts for six pier foundations and assembling the reinforcing steel cages and formwork for construction of the associated pier column stems on the northern bank of the Lehigh River.

The Turnpike’s $102 million investment in new bridges over the Lehigh River and Canal and the nearby Pohopoco Creek is in its second full year of construction.

With the spring thaw – and more favorable construction conditions – ahead, foundation drillers will move from the bank toward the waterway as they continue construction of the remaining 13 support columns for the new twin bridges over the Lehigh River and Canal.

The 9.5-foot diameter foundation shafts that are under construction are filled with concrete, supporting the poured-in-place reinforced concrete pier stems that rise up to 100 feet above the river. Construction of these 19 total bridge supports – with crews working from temporary rock causeways to sink the in-stream piers – will continue throughout 2010.

Northern abutments (the end walls that connect the structures to the main line roadway) for the Lehigh River and Canal bridges under construction adjacent to the westbound lanes of Route 248 also are nearing completion.

 

On the opposite side of the Lehigh, excavation of the rock slope will resume this spring. Workers began laying-back that massive outcropping in 2009 to provide room for the bridges’ southern abutments and for realignment of the Turnpike at the approaches to the new spans. Excavation activities at the slope, along with periodic mid-day stoppages on the Turnpike, will continue through 2010.

Pohopoco Creek Bridges
Crews at the Pohopoco Creek work area just north of the Lehigh River also made progress moving the twelve support columns for the new northbound and southbound bridges closer to completion. Eight of the twelve piers are now fully in place. Workers will finish construction of the final four by late spring, setting the stage for erection of massive pre-stressed concrete beams and the start of deck construction this summer.

In addition, the north and south abutments for the new spans are heading toward a spring completion as well.

An 800-foot long retaining wall that will support the roadway where it shifts to the west to meet the new alignment approaching the new Pohopoco Creek Bridges remains under construction at the northern end of the Turnpike work zone.

 

General Traffic Impacts

• Periodic daytime and nighttime lane closures and brief daytime stoppages may occur on the Turnpike.
• Watch for slow moving construction vehicles entering and exiting the Turnpike.
• A long-term shoulder closure is in place on Route 248 westbound from Parryville to the existing overhead Turnpike bridge.
   

 

< Return to Construction Updates list