Below is a breakdown of the project's main Construction Stages. Dates affixed to each Stage are projections and may be revised as work progresses.

Stage 1 – January 2009 to End of Summer 2009

Traffic Pattern: Turnpike traffic will be maintained on the existing northbound and southbound lanes

Construction Activities

• Site clearing and installation of Erosion and Sedimentation controls.
• Establish Access Roads from Route 248.
• Install temporary rock Causeways in Pohopoco Creek and Lehigh River.
• Temporarily widen northbound Turnpike at both the south end and north end of the work zone.
• Begin rock wall stabilization (Soil Nailing) adjacent to southbound Turnpike south of the Lehigh Bridge progressing toward Lehigh Tunnel.
• Begin Pohopoco Bridges foundations and substructures.
• Begin Lehigh Bridges foundations and substructures.
• Install culvert other drainage structures along abandoned RR bed.

 

Stage 2 – Fall 2009 to End of Year 2010

Traffic Pattern: Northbound Turnpike traffic shifted to widened northbound lanes, SB traffic remains on existing lanes

Construction Activities

• Complete foundation and substructure construction at Pohopoco Creek bridges.
• Set deck beams and construct deck for Pohopoco bridges.
• Complete foundation and substructure construction at Lehigh Bridges.
• Continue rock wall excavation adjacent to southbound Turnpike south of the Lehigh River Bridge.
• Continue retaining wall construction adjacent to southbound Turnpike at north end of project (right photo).

 

 

 

 

Stage 2 - Early 2011 to Early Summer 2011

Traffic Pattern: Northbound, Southbound traffic remain on existing lanes

Construction Activities

• Complete construction of Pohopoco Bridges.
• Complete construction of southbound Lehigh Bridge.
• Continue construction of northbound Lehigh Bridge.
• Complete rock wall excavation south of the Lehigh Bridge.
• Construct southbound approach pavement/realignment.

 

Stage 3 – Mid-Summer 2011 to End of Year 2011

Traffic Pattern: Maintain northbound Turnpike traffic on widened northbound lanes.
Traffic Pattern: Shift southbound traffic to new southbound bridges.

Construction Activities

• Complete southbound approach pavement/realignment.
• Complete deck placement on northbound Lehigh River Bridge.
• Construct northbound approach pavement/ralignment.

 

Stage 4 – January 2012 to November 2012
All Turnpike traffic on new bridges

Construction Activities

• Construct Hiking Trail.
• Construct Wetland Mitigation site.
• Construct causeways for bridge demolition.
• Demolish existing Pohopoco and Lehigh Bridges.
• Remove Temporary pavement & grade for future widening.