PennDOT Closing Hulton Bridge For 2 Weeks For Decking Process
OAKMONT (KDKA) -- The new Hulton Bridge is in the process of getting its decking.
Gravel in some areas, rebar in others as the span races towards completion this fall. But there is a lot of work that needs to be completed on both ends of the bridge.
So PennDOT's Steve Cowan says to get that work going, "We are going to close the Hulton Bridge for two weeks from June 11 to June 24."
We're not talking daytime hours or intermittent closings. This will be a full round-the-clock closure and the detours won't be easy.
The alternatives are the New Kensington Bridge six miles up the Allegheny River, or the Highland Park Bridge.
Highland Park will probably get the bulk of the load, which will mean many of the Hulton Bridge's 20,000 vehicles a day will be going through historic Oakmont and Verona, and on one lane Allegheny River Boulevard.
"I would imagine a lot of people know other ways around the detour routes, and I would strongly suggest using them," said Cowan.
If you normally drive Freeport Road past the Hulton Bridge, you need to know that while the bridge is closed, Freeport is going to be severely restricted.
Cowan says, "Traffic is going to be a single lane alternating through that corridor at the bridge."
Temporary lights will allow one direction to go and then the other.
"Motorist, especially at peak travel times, could see additional delays through that area," said Cowan.
This will be the first of two total closures of the Hulton Bridge. The second will come in late September and will also last two weeks. The new bridge should be open in mid to late October.
Cowan also joined John Shumway and Larry Richert on "The KDKA Morning News" and says it will close one more time.
"There will be another two-week closure at the end of September to tie in the ends of the roadway for the new bridge," he says.
If everything goes according to plan, PennDOT hopes to open the new bridge Oct. 19.
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