The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) invites the public to view the plans for a proposed project to repairs the bridges that carry Interstate 79 over the CSX and Norfolk Southern Railroad tracks and West 16th Street in the City of Erie, Erie County.
The twin bridges are located side-by-side on I-79 between the Route 5 (Exit 183A, West 12th Street) and Route 20 (Exit 182, West 26th) interchanges to the north and south, respectively.
The proposed project includes replacing of the existing concrete deck and barriers and bearings, as well as repainting steel structural pieces, and making repairs and improvements to structural components of the bridge.
Proposed work also includes reconstruction of the roadway immediately adjacent to each side of the bridge, and pavement patching and resurfacing of approximately 2,000 feet of roadway from the bridges to the West 12th Street eastbound overpass.
Work is expected to take two construction seasons to complete and is anticipated to happen in 2026 and 2027.
All work will be completed using phased construction with a minimum of two lanes in each direction remaining open.
The existing steel bridges were built in 1983. The northbound bridge is 1,563 feet long and the southbound bridge is 1,573 feet long. They are classified in fair condition. Approximately 20,500 vehicles a day use the bridges, on average, of which seven percent is truck traffic.
The purpose of the public comment period is to introduce the project and receive public input regarding any questions or concerns with the project. It is also an opportunity for the public to review and comment on the project’s potential effect upon Cultural Resources pursuant to the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation’s 36 CFR Part 800 regulations implementing Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act.
Two National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) eligible railroad lines are mapped as being present under the bridges: NY, Chicago & St. Louis Railroad and Bessemer & Lake Erie Railroad. Both historic railroads share the same alignment within the current Norfolk Southern RR right of way but separate just east of the project area. It appears that NY, Chicago & St. Louis RR was the main east-west route; Bessemer & Lake Erie RR occupied portions of the east-west line for its north-south connection between Pittsburgh and the Port of Erie.
Temporary construction easements will be acquired for contractor access to the I-79 bridges. Temporary occupancy of the historic railroads will not affect the historic significance of the railroads. Following the temporary occupancy, the property will be restored to its original state and the railroads will continue to be eligible for listing in the NRHP. There are no significant engineering features of the historic railroads present within the area of potential effect (APE).
The information on the I-79 Dual Bridges Rehabilitation, including a handout, digital plans, and an online comment form, is available online only. It can be accessed by visiting www.penndot.pa.gov/District clicking the Projects Near You and the District 1 link.
Those unable to access the information online may give feedback by contacting PennDOT Project Manager Jeanette Uhl at juhl@pa.gov or 814-678-7084.
The project documents will be made available in alternative languages or formats if requested. If you need translation/interpretation services or have special needs or have special concerns that require individual attention, contact Jeanette Uhl, PennDOT Project Manager, at juhl@pa.gov or 814-678-7084.
Pursuant to Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, PennDOT does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, gender, age, or disability. If you feel that you have been denied the benefits of, or participation in a PennDOT program or activity, you may contact the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation, Bureau of Equal Opportunity, DBE/Title VI Division at 717-787-5891 or 800-468-4201.
Subscribe to PennDOT news and traffic alerts in Crawford, Erie, Forest, Mercer, Venango, and Warren counties at www.penndot.pa.gov/District1.
Information about infrastructure in District 1, including completed work and significant projects, is available at www.penndot.pa.gov/D1Results. Find PennDOT’s planned and active construction projects at www.projects.penndot.gov.
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MEDIA CONTACT: Jill Harry, 814-678-5035 or jharry@pa.gov
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