Mill Creek Bridge reopened to traffic in Ligonier after year-long project

The long-awaited North Market Street bridge project, which spans Mill Creek in Ligonier Township, was reopened to traffic on Friday, but is still awaiting one more step until it is officially complete, according to PennDOT District 12.

The bridge along Route 711 north of Ligonier was replaced as part of PennDOT’s Rapid Bridge Replacement Project. Traffic across the span was restricted to one way and directed by a traffic signal since April 2018.

Construction was expected to be completed in December but was delayed.

With the bridge reopened, motorists may notice a slight bump as they drive across the bridge until a polyester polymer concrete overlay is applied to the deck, PennDOT reported. The agency noted that it is often the final step in completing such box beam bridge projects.

The overlay is designed to protect the deck from the wear and tear brought about by the state’s harsh winters and reduce the long-term maintenance costs.

The polyester material can only be applied when temperatures are consistently above 40 degrees, dry weather is forecasted and after the bridge concrete has cured for at least 30 days. An alternating traffic pattern will be controlled by flaggers when the PPC overlay is applied.

In the event of unfavorable weather, the overlay application schedule may be delayed.

This bridge is referred to as JV-548 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. Replacement work for this bridge was performed by Allison Park Contractors Inc. of Gibsonia.

The Rapid Bridge Replacement Project is a public-private partnership between PennDOT and Plenary Walsh Keystone Partners , 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 impacts on motorists.

More on P3 in Pennsylvania is available at www.P3.pa.gov or “Public-Private Partnerships” at www.penndot.gov. Information on the bridges and their status is at www.parapidbridges.com, or by calling the project hotline at 877-444-9990 or email info@parapidbridges.com.