Pennsylvania Turnpikes Lehigh River/Pohopoco Creek Bridge Replacement Projects

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Content is from the site's 2009 - 2012 archived pages.

Welcome to the website for the Pennsylvania Turnpike’s Lehigh River/Pohopoco Creek Bridge replacement projects.
 
As part of our continuing investment in America's transportation infrastructure, the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission is replacing two bridges on the Northeastern Extension (I-476) in Carbon County with four new spans. The structures are located approximately two miles north of the Lehigh Tunnel between mile markers 73.52 and 75.29.

We'll use this portal to provide you with transparency into the progress of construction and any traffic impacts that you may encounter on the Turnpike or the local road system in the project area.

An aside: It was great that the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission set up this website to update travelers of the progress regarding the two bridge replacements. It certainly saved me a lot of time and grief during the approximately two years it took to complete. I used Interstate 476 frequently to travel to Scranton from Philadelphia. Now that I am located in NYC I take Rt 80 and never even get close to the Lehigh River, or the two new bridges. I told her about my travails driving to Scranton in the winters while the Lehigh River/Pohopoco Creek Bridge replacement projects were underway. She had just recently driven over the bridges while on a tour seeing fall leaves. Sometimes the world is so small.

 

OVERVIEW

As part of our continuing investment in America's transportation infrastructure, the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission has replaced two bridges on the Northeastern Extension (I-476) in Carbon County with four new spans. The structures are located approximately two miles north of the Lehigh Tunnel between mile markers 73.52 and 75.29.

This project is a continuation of the Commission's self-funded, 10 Year Capital Improvement Plan that has been developed to address the need to rebuild and modernize the more than 600 miles of interstate highway -- and mainline structures -- under its jurisdiction.

Soaring as high as 125 feet over the scenic Lehigh River and adjacent Pohopoco Creek, the bridges have been replaced with $101,558,000 in funds generated by the users of the Turnpike. This investment has provided hundreds of quality jobs on-site, at material suppliers and in the communities surrounding the work area, pumping much needed capital into the region and generating significant payroll taxes for Pennsylvania's economy.

The new structures -- two northbound, two southbound -- are designed to serve Turnpike motorists over the long term, and they have been constructed in harmony with the Pocono Mountains' environment and at minimal impact on the rich and scenic waterways that they traverse.

Our website is designed to allow you to actively participate by providing an open view into the details of the project and the construction process as we complete the building of new, state-of-the-art bridges at the gateway to a mountainous region that is home to many and a relaxing escape for many more. Take a look around. Sign up to be part of our active information program that pushes timely information to your e-mail box or cell phone. Ask us a question or drop us a line anytime. We'll get back to you quickly, and we hope that you'll  come back often to see the progress that we are making.

Project Facts

 
General Description: Replace twin northbound and southbound PA Turnpike/I-476 Bridges over Lehigh River, Pohopoco Creek 

• Contract # 99-013-RCFU-C

Location: Approximately two miles north of the Lehigh Tunnel in Franklin, East Penn and Mahoning Townships, and Parryville Borough, Carbon County, PA

Turnpike Work Zone: Mile 73.52 to Mile 75.29

Construction Contract: $101,558,000.00

Construction Start: December 22, 2008

Scheduled Completion: November 02, 2012

 

Lehigh River/Canal Bridges
(Original structures opened to traffic in 1957) 

• Height: 75’  above river
• Number of Piers: 9 Northbound bridge, 10 Southbound bridge
• Beam Type: Pre-stressed concrete
• Individual Span Length (distance between piers): 150’
• Deck Width: 42’
• Capacity: Two 12’ travel lanes
• Outside Shoulder: 12’
• Inside Shoulder: 6'
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Pohopoco Creek Bridges
(Original structures opened to traffic in 1957) 

• Height: 120’  above creek
• Number of Piers: 6 Northbound bridge, 6 Southbound bridge
• Beam Type: Pre-stressed concrete
• Individual Span Length (distance between piers): 145’
• Deck Width: 42’
• Capacity: Two 12’ travel lanes
• Outside Shoulder: 12’
• Inside Shoulder: 6’

 

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2011

 

Cash Only Toll Increase in 2012
12/18/2011    

Pa. Turnpike Reminds Motorists of 10% Cash-Only Toll Increase Next Year
Turnpike customers encouraged to get E-ZPass now to avoid higher tolls in the New Year

The Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission reminds customers that fares are set to go up on most of the state's toll roads by 10 percent on Jan. 1, 2012 for cash-paying travelers only. Because electronic-toll rates will not go up, E-ZPass customers will pay about 17 percent less than cash customers, on average, starting next year. (E-ZPass users presently pay 7 percent less, on average, than cash customers on the Pa. Turnpike.)

With the new rates - that will take effect at 12:01 a.m. - the most-common cash toll for passenger vehicles will increase from $1.10 to $1.25 while the most-common cash toll for a standard commercial-truck classification (Class 5) will rise from $8.95 to $9.85. (The 2012 fares were determined by applying a 10 percent increase on top of the 2011 fare then rounding up to the nearest nickel.) The increase will be applied to all vehicle classes on all Turnpike sections except the Southern Beltway (Turnpike 576) in Allegheny and Washington counties, where rates will be unchanged.

Turnpike Chairman William K. Lieberman of Pittsburgh said by not raising E-ZPass rates, the agency is easing the economic impact of a toll increase. "Since nearly two-thirds of travelers already use E-ZPass, only about a third of our customers will be affected," he explained. "For anyone without E-ZPass, I recommend you sign up soon if you want to have that transponder in hand before the end of the year."

Getting E-ZPass is easy: Most customers enroll online at www.paturnpike.com or by calling 1-877-Penn-Pass (1-877-736-6727). Customers can also open an E-ZPass account at many of the state's AAA offices and at certain regional grocery stores including Acme, Giant Eagle, Get-Go and Karns. For a complete list of retail locations, visit www.paturnpike.com/ezpass/sales.

Chairman Lieberman said there are several reasons to motivate people to get E-ZPass. "We believe it's important to encourage more travelers to switch to E-ZPass because of the numerous benefits, including economic, environmental and customer-safety advantages," he explained. "Collecting tolls electronically is not only safer, faster and more convenient for customers, but it is better for the environment because it helps diminish idling at the toll plazas and also reduces the Turnpike's operating costs."

The cost to process an E-ZPass transaction is about four times less than the cost of handling a cash transaction; it costs the commission about $1 per transaction to collect a cash toll, and less than 25 cents per transaction to collect tolls via E-ZPass.

The lower E-ZPass rates apply to all individual and commercial E-ZPass customers regardless of issuing agency or state in which an account was established. Presently, there are 24 E-ZPass agencies in 14 states, largely in the Northeastern U.S., and more than 20 million E-ZPass transponders in use on toll roads, bridges and tunnels nationwide.

The 2012 increase is needed, in part, to satisfy the Turnpike's funding obligation to the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. A 2007 statute expanded the Turnpike's role by directing it to utilize tollbooth revenues to help underwrite a transportation-funding shortfall. Under Act 44 of 2007, the Turnpike Commission continues to make annual contributions of $450 million to PennDOT; of that amount, $250 million is used for transit agencies across the state and $200 million is used to help fund non-Turnpike road and bridge projects. To date, the commission provided more than $3 billion to the state under this law. The 2012 toll increase will be the fourth rate hike needed to meet the debt-service costs associated with Act 44.

 

 

 

 

2011

11/16/2011 Local Students Visit Site

Commonwealth Connections Academy Students Visit Job Site, Turnpike Facility

Students from the Commonwealth Connections Academy (Lehighton) and their parents visited the site of the new bridges that carry the Pennsylvania Turnpike (I-476) over the historic Lehigh Canal and Lehigh River. The tour, arranged by their teacher Ms. Kim Evans, was part of a lesson in the 70 year history of the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission (PTC). Information on the construction of the new bridges was presented by Bernie Bydlon, P.E., Construction Engineer Manager (PTC) and Aaron Barnes, P.E. Resident Engineer from Urban Engineers.

Following the visit at the bridges, the tour group proceeded to the Turnpike Maintenance Training Facility; located near the Lehigh Tunnel, for a PowerPoint presentation by Mr. Barnes. The presentation took the students on a visual tour of the building of the new Lehigh River and Pohopoco Creek bridges from the start of construction in January 2009 to the finished product. The opening of the four (4) new superstructures to traffic was celebrated with a dedication/ribbon cutting ceremony on November 4, 2011.

The group was then given a tour of the control room at the Lehigh Tunnel. Mr. Bydlon and Rick Vispi, Lehigh Tunnel and Field Training Superintendent (PTC), provided valuable insight of the inner-workings of the tunnel system. Multiple cameras provided a view inside the two tunnels from the control room above. Other systems required for the safety of the motorists and tunnel personnel were discussed. This included controls for the fans; TV monitors; motion sensors; fire alarms and carbon monoxide (CO) air monitors.

Fan Room: Students are looking at the original motor for the fans for Lehigh Tunnel (#1) built in 1957 and rehabilitated in the 1990’s.

Students were taken into the actual air duct of the NB tunnel where the huge fans circulate fresh air through the tunnel.

 

Here is what the contractor is working on... 

 Summer 2011

• Complete Pohopoco Creek bridges.
• Complete southbound Lehigh River bridge.
• Complete southbound approach pavement/realignment.
• Shift southbound Turnpike traffic onto new alignment.
• Construct concrete deck, parapets for northbound Lehigh River bridge.
• Construct northbound approach pavement/realignment.

 

 

2010

 

 

 

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Date Posted    Title
1/9/2012         Status Report: Winter 2012
9/7/2011         Status Report: September 2011
8/2/2011         Status Report: August 2011
7/5/2011         Status Report: July 2011
6/8/2011         Status Report: June 2011
5/5/2011         Status Report: May 2011
4/4/2011         Status Report: 4.4.11
2/21/2011       Status Report: 2.21.11
12/3/2010       Status Report Winter 2010-2011
11/3/2010       November Status Report
10/1/2010       October Status Report
9/7/2010         September 2010 Status Report
7/27/2010       7.27 Status Report
6/21/2010       6.21.10 Status
5/17/2010       5.17.10 Status
4/14/2010       4.14.10 Status
3/9/2010         3.9.10 Status
2/5/2010         2.5.10 Status Report
11/23/2009     11.23.09 Status Report
10/20/2009     10.20.09 Status Report
9/17/2009       9.17.09 Status Report
8/21/2009       8.20.09 Status Report
8/3/2009         8.3.09 Status Report
7/28/2009       Lane Closures Tues, Wed Night
7/1/2009         7.1.09 Status
5/15/2009       5.22.09 Construction Status
3/18/2009       3.24 Construction Status
2/20/2009       2.20.09 Construction Status

 

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More Background on LehighBridge.com

The website LehighBridge.com served as the official information portal for the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission’s (PTC) major infrastructure project to replace two critical bridges on the Pennsylvania Turnpike’s Northeastern Extension (I-476) over the Lehigh River and Pohopoco Creek in Carbon County, Pennsylvania. Created around 2008–2009, this site was an innovative platform designed to provide transparency, real-time updates, and community engagement during the multi-year bridge replacement project, which concluded in 2012.

Background and Ownership

LehighBridge.com was owned and managed by the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission, a state agency responsible for operating, maintaining, and improving the Pennsylvania Turnpike system. This agency undertook the replacement projects as part of its broader, self-funded 10-Year Capital Improvement Plan aimed at modernizing over 600 miles of turnpike highways and associated structures under its jurisdiction.

The Lehigh River and Pohopoco Creek bridges, originally constructed and opened to traffic in 1957, were vital components facilitating travel along I-476, the Northeastern Extension. By the late 2000s, the aging twin bridges needed replacement to enhance safety, increase traffic capacity, and meet modern engineering standards.

Project Overview and Goals

The project involved replacing two aging bridges—each carrying northbound and southbound lanes—with four new spans that would accommodate traffic demands well into the future. Located approximately two miles north of the Lehigh Tunnel between mile markers 73.52 and 75.29, the new bridges soar as high as 125 feet above the waterway, traversing a scenic stretch of the Lehigh River valley near the Pocono Mountains.

Valued at over $101 million ($101,558,000), the project was funded entirely through turnpike user revenues, reflecting the agency's self-reliance without direct state budget allocations. This investment aimed to:

• Modernize critical infrastructure to improve safety and traffic flow.

• Minimize environmental impact on the scenic waterways and surrounding natural habitat.

• Support the local economy by generating hundreds of construction and related jobs, benefiting communities through payroll taxes and capital infusion.

• Provide an informational link to the public, enhancing transparency and community involvement through the website.

Construction Specifics and Technical Details

The original Lehigh River bridges had nine piers on the northbound side and ten on the southbound side. They were comprised of pre-stressed concrete beams, measuring approximately 75 feet above the river, with 150-foot spans between piers and deck widths of 42 feet. Each bridge accommodated two 12-foot travel lanes, with 12-foot outside shoulders and 6-foot inside shoulders.

The Pohopoco Creek bridges stood even taller—about 120 feet above the creek—with six piers on each side. Their design featured similar pre-stressed concrete construction, 145-foot spans between piers, and equivalent lane and shoulder dimensions.

The construction process involved careful demolition of the old structures, foundation installation, pier and abutment construction, and sequential span erection to safely maintain traffic flow through the project timeline.

Outreach, Transparency, and Community Engagement

LehighBridge.com was not merely a static informational website; it was an interactive platform intended to maximize public understanding and minimize disruption during construction. The site regularly published:

• Construction progress summaries and timelines.

• Traffic impact advisories, including lane closures and detours.

• News releases covering topics like safety campaigns, toll updates, milestones, and community events.

• Invitations for public questions and feedback, fostering two-way communication.

One noteworthy example of community engagement highlighted was a visit by local students from the Commonwealth Connections Academy in Lehighton. These students toured the job site and nearby turnpike facilities, gaining educational insights into the historical and engineering significance of the bridges and the ongoing work.

Popularity, Audience, and Cultural Significance

Though targeted mainly at motorists who regularly traveled on I-476 through Carbon County and adjacent areas, LehighBridge.com attracted interest from civil engineers, infrastructure enthusiasts, local residents, and media outlets covering public works developments in Pennsylvania.

This project and its associated website played an important role culturally and socially by:

• Enhancing safety and connectivity in a region important for commerce and tourism.

• Respecting the scenic natural environment, home to outdoor recreational pursuits that draw visitors to the Poconos.

• Providing an early example of how transportation agencies can leverage online tools to improve public information access and trust.

Media and Press Coverage

Throughout the bridge replacement timeline, news releases posted on the site documented key milestones such as the groundbreaking ceremony in April 2009, traffic shifts onto completed spans, and the official dedication of the new bridges in November 2011. Other releases focused on relevant topics like toll increases, mobile app launches for safer driving, and coordinated traffic advisories during local events.

The steady media coverage underscored the project's importance in regional infrastructure improvements and highlighted the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission's commitment to keeping the public well-informed.

Economic and Environmental Impact

By employing over a hundred workers on-site and at supplier firms, the project injected substantial payroll funds into the local economy and encouraged ancillary business activity. The design and construction process emphasized minimizing environmental disruption to the Lehigh River and Pohopoco Creek ecosystems, including mitigation efforts and adherence to best practices for wetland and wildlife protection.

Legacy and Insights

LehighBridge.com serves as a model for public infrastructure projects, demonstrating the efficacy of transparent, accessible project communications to improve public experience during complex construction endeavors. Its thorough documentation, real-time updates, and educational outreach programs fostered trust and awareness, easing traveler frustration and bridging the gap between government agencies and the communities they serve.

Today, the four new bridges stand as durable, visually harmonious, and crucial links for north-south travel in Pennsylvania’s turnpike system, supporting thousands of daily commuters and long-distance travelers.

This comprehensive overview draws on archived content from the original LehighBridge.com platform, official Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission releases from 2009 to 2012, and public records relating to the Lehigh River and Pohopoco Creek bridge replacement projects. The detailed information highlights the project's meticulous planning, execution, and communication strategy, reflecting a benchmark in transportation infrastructure modernization and public engagement.

 

 

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