kwarco@observer-reporter.com

The 2009 construction season promises to be a busy one, as more than a dozen bridges of varying sizes in Washington and Greene counties are slated for replacement.

On Monday, Gov. Edward G. Rendell signed legislation authorizing an additional $350 million to repair bridges statewide.

"These are new resources funded through bond financing, which we have not done a lot of lately," said state Sen. J. Barry Stout, D-Bentleyville. "As the prices to do bridge work are escalating so rapidly, instead of putting off the work, we felt it was more prudent to use bonds to finance the work since those rates are low.

"Our goal is to do 1,000 bridges across the state over a three-year period," the senator added. "We've tripled the amount of resources to replace and repair bridges."

Stout said the state has 25,000 bridges, about half of which are more than 75 years old. In the state Department of Transportation District 12, which includes Washington and Greene counties, about 20 bridges have been given weight or other restrictions.

Many of the bridges will be done through the design/build concept in which the bidder essentially designs and builds the bridge, said Don Herbert, bridge engineer for District 12.

"We've been doing quite a bit of this method of delivery in recent years," Herbert said Tuesday. "It has been very successful."

The North Main Street bridge over Interstate 70 in South Strabane Township was among the first bridges to be built using the concept. The contractor designed the bridge while PennDOT coordinated and reviewed the plans.

Stout said the design/build method speeds up the construction process and saves in engineering costs.

Many of the contracts for the bridges to be done will be let in late 2008 through the second quarter of 2009.

One project slated for Washington County at Valleybrook Road and Route 19 will include not only the bridge replacement but intersection realignment.

In Greene County, the Children's Home Bridge is an arch structure that will be replaced over Ruff Creek on Route 188, Morgan Township. The bridge on Route 218 will be replaced and take traffic not only over South Fork Ten Mile Creek but also the railroad tracks.

In addition to the bridge replacements, spans such as the Donora-Monessen bridge are slated for bridge deck repair. Stout said the bridge is structurally sound, but there are weak spots on the deck.

Bridges scheduled for replacement

Greene County

• Jefferson Road Bridge, Route 188 over South Fork Ten Mile Creek, Franklin Township. Let date: December 2008.

• Route 218 over railroad and South Fork Ten Mile Creek, Waynesburg and Franklin Township. Let date: June 2009.

• Rudolph Run Bridge over Rudolph Run, Wayne and Perry townships. Let date: December 2008.

• Children's Home Bridge, Route 188 over Ruff Creek, Morgan Township. Let date: January 2009.

• Dry Tavern Bridge, Route 88 over Pumpkin Run, Jefferson Township. Let date: December 2008.

• Ten Mile Creek Bridge, Route 88 over Ten Mile Creek, Jefferson Township, Greene County, and East Bethlehem Township, Washington County. Let date: December 2008.

• Eastview Bridge, Route 18 over Ten Mile Creek, Franklin Township. Let date: December 2008.

Washington County

• Arden Bridge over Chartiers Creek, North Main Street, Chartiers and South Strabane townships. Let date: March 2009.

• Barrs Run Bridge over Barrs Run, West Bethlehem Township. Let date: December 2008.

• Deemston Bridge over Plum Run, Deemston Borough. Let date: February 2009.

• Canonsburg Bridge No. 2 on Route 980 over branch of Chartiers Creek, Canonsburg. Let date: August 2008.

• Zediker Station Road bridge on Interstate 70 over Zediker Station, South Strabane Township. Let date: August 2008.

• Route 19 and Valleybrook Road, Peters Township. Also includes intersection improvement. Let date: January 2009.

• Pigeon Creek Bridge over Pigeon Creek, Somerset Township. Let date: December 2008.

• Westland Run Bridge, Route 519, Mt. Pleasant Township. Let date: December 2008.

• Buffalo Creek Bridge, Route 40, Buffalo Township. Let date: March 2009.
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