Saturday, June 2, 2018

Part of Route 209 in Tamaqua to Close Starting This Week to Replace Bridge

Part of Route 209 in Tamaqua will be closed for several months while a bridge is replaced.

The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) announced Friday  that US 209/West Broad Street will close June 6 to allow workers to replace the structurally deficient bridge over Wabash Creek in Tamaqua Borough. Work began on the project last month.

Starting June 6 and lasting through August of 2018, US 209/West Broad Street will be closed and detoured between South Railroad and South Lehigh streets. Access will be maintained to all properties.

The posted passenger vehicle detour will utilize South Railroad Street, West Spruce Street and South Lehigh Street. A separate posted truck detour will route truck traffic on PA 309, PA 54, Interstate 81, and PA 61.
After August 2018, motorists should expect daytime lane restrictions on US 209/West Broad Street between PA 309 and Hunter Street until the end of the project.
Motorists should anticipate delays and use caution driving through the area.
Work on the project includes replacing the existing stone arch bridge with a pre-cast reinforced concrete arch culvert, new bridge roadway approaches, and new line painting. Also, the passenger vehicle detour roads will be paved at the end of the project.
J.D. Eckman., Inc. of Atglen, Pa., is the general contractor on the $2,137,456 project that is expected to be complete in August 2019.
The US 209 Bridge was constructed in 1912. It is 20 feet long, 30 feet wide and posted with a 28-ton weight restriction. The new culvert will be 18 feet 7-3/4 inches long, 51 feet 9 inches wide, and will have no restrictions. This section of US 209 has an average daily traffic volume of 5,626 vehicles.