Berks County Bridge to be replaced as part of Public-Private Partnership
Allentown, PA – Construction for the Leesport Avenue (Route 1004) bridge, spanning Willow Creek in Ontelaunee Township, Berks County, is scheduled to begin as part of the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation’s (PennDOT) Rapid Bridge Replacement Project. Replacement of this bridge will allow PennDOT to remove it from Berks County’s structurally deficient bridge list.
Construction is expected to begin during the week of August 14 and be complete in late October. During this time, drivers will be directed to follow a detour along Snyder Road, Route 61, Tuckerton Road, and Allentown Pike.
In the event of unfavorable weather or unforeseen activities, this schedule may change.
This bridge is referred to as JV-169 and is one out of the 558 bridges being replaced under the Rapid Bridge Replacement Project. JV references the joint-venture partnership between Walsh/Granite, which is leading construction for the entire project.
The Rapid Bridge Replacement Project is a public-private partnership (P3) between PennDOT and Plenary Walsh Keystone Partners (PWKP), under which PWKP will finance, design, replace, and maintain the bridges for 25 years. The P3 approach will allow PennDOT to replace the bridges more quickly while achieving significant savings and minimizing impact on motorists.
To see the bridges included in the statewide initiative and to learn more about the Rapid Bridge Replacement Project and P3 in Pennsylvania, visit www.p3forpa.pa.gov. Additional information on the project, the team, and how to bid on the project can be found at www.parapidbridges.com or by calling the project hotline at 877-444-9990 or email [email protected]
