Accelerated Bridge Construction Method on Route 11

Text as published on www.penndot.gov:

07/26/2017

​Harrisburg, PA – The bridge that carries Route 11 over Alexanders Spring Creek between Dickinson and West Pennboro townships in Cumberland County will be closed for two weeks, starting at 6 AM on Saturday, July 29. Route 11 is also known locally as Ritner Highway. The bridge is located a short distance southwest of Carlisle Borough. The closure is necessary so that construction crews can demolish the existing bridge and replace it with a new modular bridge. This portion of Route 11 carries an average daily traffic of nearly 8,500 vehicles. Traffic will be detoured around the bridge closure by way of Route 465, Interstate 81, and Route 233. In the event of an incident that closes one or both directions of I-81, Route 174 will be utilized as the emergency detour route. Route 11 should reopen to traffic on Saturday, August 12.

Though Route 11 will remain open to local traffic up to the location of the bridge during this period, thru traffic will be stopped at the intersection with Route 465 to the east of the bridge and at the intersection with Route 233 to the west. During this two week period, flaggers will be stationed at both intersections to direct traffic unfamiliar with this area to the signed detour route. This is necessary due to the large number of warehouses and trucks in the area. If thru traffic travels beyond the road closure signs, there are no good locations for turning around, especially for tractor trailers – and it will be the flaggers’ responsibility to help prevent this from occurring.

PennDOT has contracted with Lobar Site Development Corporation of Dillsburg, Pennsylvania, to conduct the bridge replacement project at a cost of $1,644,155. The existing two-span bridge was built in 1937; and due to age and deterioration, is currently classified as structurally deficient (SD). The replacement one-span bridge will be built using accelerated bridge construction methods. By using precast bridge components for the bridge foundation, abutments, beams and deck, the new bridge will be assembled in two weeks, rather than the three to six months that it would take under conventional construction methods.

After the bridge is assembled and Route 11 reopened to traffic, there will be remaining work during the following weeks to rebuild and pave the roadway approaches to the bridge. This will require single lane traffic restrictions during the day, with flaggers assisting motorists through the work area. The overall contract completion date for the project is late September.

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