Butler County, PA (June 17) ? PennDOT Engineering District 10 is advising motorists that traffic on Route 8 southbound will be reduced to one lane beginning on Monday, June 20, 2005. The right travel lane will be closed to allow crews to make changes to Route 8 to eventually connect the roadway to the new bridge. The lane restriction will continue throughout the remainder of the Route 8 Main Street Bridge replacement project in Butler City and Butler Township, Butler County.
Motorists should use caution and expect possible delays and changing traffic patterns when traveling through the area.
In addition, PennDOT has also moved the start date of the 16-week bridge closure and detour to July 23, one week later than originally scheduled. During this time, traffic will be detoured from Route 8 through Lyndora on Hansen Avenue to Route 356 back to Butler City.
The work is part of the $23 million Route 8 Main Street Bridge replacement project. The project will replace the 87-year old, two-lane bridge with a new four-lane bridge on a new alignment south of the existing location. Recognizing the unique character of the bridge and the image it would convey for Butler City, PennDOT met with a community aesthetics group to incorporate special features into the new bridge. Some of those features include ornamental lighting, a vintage pedestrian railing, and textured concrete surfaces for abutments, retaining walls and one pier. A sidewalk will also be constructed on the east side of the new structure and 56 lighted parking spaces will be added beneath the bridge.
In addition, the project includes improvements to the southern intersection of existing Route 8 with Brugh Avenue, Morton Avenue and South Main Street. This intersection will be retained as a signalized intersection after the existing bridge is removed. The existing roadway between this intersection and the new alignment will be rehabilitated and re-striped as a two-lane roadway with a continuous center lane for left turns onto Pittsburgh Pike, Coal Street and Roosevelt Boulevard.
Construction is expected to conclude in 2006. The prime contractor for the project is the Joseph B. Fay Company of Pittsburgh, PA.
The project is approximately 40% complete. Crews continue to construct the piers and abutments that will eventually hold the new bridge. Steel erection is also underway. As construction activities move forward, motorists are advised to use caution, stay alert and exercise patience when traveling through the area.
Visit www.mainstreetviaduct.com more information on the project. A virtual image of the bridge is also available at the website.
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