Harrisburg, PA – The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) invites the public to an online plans display regarding the Route 147 (South River Road) bridge preservation project over Powells Creek in Reed Township, Dauphin County, PA. The site is located near the confluence of Powells Creek and the Susquehanna River.
The purpose of this project is to provide a sustainable crossing over Powells Creek that provides a safe and efficient roadway system for motorists and to maintain the existing bridge.
The project involves removing unsound/delaminated areas of the gunite coating, resetting bulged/displaced stones in the arch intrados and spandrel walls, repointing stone masonry, installing foundation drains and waterproofing over the arch, removing the earth fill over the existing arch and replacing with a lightweight cement concrete cap and geosynthetic reinforced soil fill, and reconstructing the roadway and guide rail.
This section of Route 147 has an average daily traffic volume of 6,608 vehicles per day (vpd).
Route 147 will remain open during construction. Work will be completed in four stages. Stage 1 consists of temporary lane shifts to install temporary pavement. Stages 2 and 3 consist of single lane closures, maintaining one lane of temporary traffic in each direction utilizing temporary signals to complete top-side construction. Stage 4 consists of short-term lane closures for entry to complete underside construction and will utilize only short-term Maintenance and Protection of Traffic measures.
There are multiple utilities at the site. Five PPL poles, carrying overhead electric and telephone lines, will need to be relocated. There is a concrete encased 12-inch petroleum line running under the structure and along Powells Creek that will be temporarily buried for temporary access. Two petroleum lines (6-inch and 8-inch) are crossing Route 147 with an unknown depth. Subsurface exploration will be conducted in final design to determine if there will be any impacts.
The project is currently in design, and construction work is anticipated to begin in Spring 2028 and last approximately six months.
A digital version of the project plans and information are available to view online with public comments accepted through February 4, 2026.
Information, including bridge plans and an interactive comment form, can be found by visiting the PennDOT District 8 website, PennDOT District 8, clicking Projects Near You listed on the left side of the page, then the District 8 Projects, and choosing South River Road Bridge Rehabilitation Project.
The purpose of the plans display 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.
The project documents can 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 Adam Wright, PennDOT Project Manager, at adamwright@pa.gov, or 717-772-4028.
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.
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 1,200 traffic cameras. 511PA is also available through a smartphone application for iPhone and Android devices, by calling 5-1-1, or by following regional X alerts.
Find PennDOT’s planned and active construction projects at www.pa.gov/DOTprojects. Subscribe to PennDOT news and find transportation results in Adams, Cumberland, Dauphin, Franklin, Lancaster, Lebanon, Perry and York counties at www.pa.gov/DOTdistrict8.
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MEDIA CONTACT: Dave Thompson, 717-418-5018, or at dmthompson@pa.gov
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Please refer to the project location map below:
