A $2.4 million project to replace the bridge that carries Old Mercer Road over Neshannock Creek in East Lackawannock Township, Mercer County is scheduled to start April 1, 2026.
The project includes replacing the existing single-lane metal truss bridge with a two-lane concrete bridge. The roadway and new bridge will be slightly realigned to improve the turning radii at both ends of the bridge. Work also includes drainage and guide rail improvements, tree removal, and updated signs and roadway markers.
Construction is expected to begin April 1, 2026, weather permitting, and is expected to be completed by May 25, 2027. Minor landscaping work will be done in spring 2027.
The project will require a detour, which will be posted using Route 19, Route 258, and Courtney Road. It is expected to be in place for seven months.
The contractor is A Merante Contracting Inc of Pittsburgh, PA. The contract cost is $2,355,222, which is to be paid with 80 percent federal funds and 15 percent state funds and 5 percent local funds.
The existing bridge was built in 1922. It is rated in poor condition and posted with a 9-ton/13-ton combination weight limit and a 14-foot, 5-inch vertical clearance restriction. Approximately 400 vehicles a day use the bridge, on average. The bridge is owned by Mercer County.
Information on the Old Mercer Road Bridge Replacement is available online at www.pa.gov/DOTDistrict1 under the Projects Near You option located at the top of the webpage.
PennDOT urges motorists to slow down when driving in work zones, and also to be alert to changing conditions, avoid distractions and to pay attention to signs and flaggers. Drive responsibly in work zones for your safety and the safety of the workers.
Motorists can check conditions on major roadways by visiting www.511PA.com. 511PA, which is free and available 24 hours a day, provides traffic delay warnings, weather forecasts, traffic speed information and access to more than 1,000 traffic cameras.
511PA is also available through a smartphone application for iPhone and Android devices, by calling 5-1-1, or by following regional Twitter alerts accessible on the 511PA website.
Subscribe to PennDOT news and traffic alerts in Crawford, Erie, Forest, Mercer, Venango, and Warren counties at www.pa.gov/DOTDistrict1.
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.
Find PennDOT news for the northwest region on X or Facebook.
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MEDIA CONTACT: Jill Harry, 814-678-5035 or jharry@pa.gov