Wrightsville-Columbia bridge:\u00a0What’s the latest on rehabbing it and building a roundabout?

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Crews will be conducting a lighting study Tuesday night for a proposed roundabout at an intersection in Wrightsville as part of an overall plan to rehabilitate the historic Veterans Memorial Bridge over the Susquehanna River.

Drivers will see traffic restrictions at the five-point intersection of Routes 462, Hellam Street, North Second Street and South Second Street, according to the state Department of Transportation. The closures will be done between 9 p.m. and midnight.

The purpose of the study is to measure the existing illumination levels along the streets to help design brighter lighting when the roundabout is built, a news release states.

The proposed roundabout is one of the enhancements planned as part of the rehabilitation of the 94-year-old Route 462/Veterans Memorial Bridge between Columbia and Wrightsville.

The estimated $103.1 million project is expected to begin next year, according to PennDOT.

Other enhancements include a traffic calming median at the Route 462 intersection with Rotary Park in Columbia and a bicycle route connection between trails on both sides of the river.

‘I hate that intersection’: Roundabout might be built in Wrightsville near bridge

What’s the latest with the project?

The project will be bid in December to allow for continued coordination with Norfolk Southern and utilities, right-of-way clearance, ongoing bridge design as well as independent work on the Route 30 bridge before the detour on the Route 462 structure begins, said Mark A. Malhenzie, senior project manager.

The notice to proceed will likely be given to a contractor in February, and work will begin in the spring.

In Stage 1, crews will work underneath the bridge while traffic will be maintained on it. That is expected to take about 21 months, he said.

Construction of the roundabout will be completed during Stage 2 of the project, which is when the bridge will be closed for a period of time. The contract will require the roundabout to be completed within five months to minimize disruptions to the local network and community, Malhenzie said.

Stage 2 is expected to take about 16 to 18 months. The roundabout could be built any time during that period based on the contractors selected constructability methods, he said.

Rt. 462 Veterans Memorial Bridge: Latest on the rehabilitation plans, closure of the span

Mayfly mitigation on bridge scaled back

Some refinements to the plans have been made since PennDOT shared them with the public a few years ago.

Underlighting of the bridge will not be done because the maintenance costs would be too expensive for the municipalities, Malhenzie said. Minor provisions are being made so it could be added in the future.

To help with the mayfly mitigation, dual-color illumination will be used with the existing deck lighting, he said. When it’s mayfly season, amber-colored lights will be turned on. During the rest of the year, white lights will be used.

Some minor revisions also have been made to the bike and pedestrian trails connecting the bridge and Bike Route S to the local park and trail networks on each side of the structure, Malhenzie said. It was done with coordination of the municipalities.

Wrightsville road closures planned for lighting study

PennDOT says the brief closures on Tuesday night for the lighting study will affect the following locations:

  • North Second Street between Hellam Street/Route 462 and Locust Street.
  • South Second Street between Hellam Street/Route 462 and Orange Street.
  • Hellam Street between Second Street/Route 462 and Front Street.
  • Hellam Street between Second Street/Route 462 and Third Street.

Only one location will be closed at a time, and each closure will last about 30 minutes, the release states.

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Wrightsville-Columbia bridge:\u00a0What’s the latest on rehabbing it and building a roundabout?

[ad_1]

play

Crews will be conducting a lighting study Tuesday night for a proposed roundabout at an intersection in Wrightsville as part of an overall plan to rehabilitate the historic Veterans Memorial Bridge over the Susquehanna River.

Drivers will see traffic restrictions at the five-point intersection of Routes 462, Hellam Street, North Second Street and South Second Street, according to the state Department of Transportation. The closures will be done between 9 p.m. and midnight.

The purpose of the study is to measure the existing illumination levels along the streets to help design brighter lighting when the roundabout is built, a news release states.

The proposed roundabout is one of the enhancements planned as part of the rehabilitation of the 94-year-old Route 462/Veterans Memorial Bridge between Columbia and Wrightsville.

The estimated $103.1 million project is expected to begin next year, according to PennDOT.

Other enhancements include a traffic calming median at the Route 462 intersection with Rotary Park in Columbia and a bicycle route connection between trails on both sides of the river.

‘I hate that intersection’: Roundabout might be built in Wrightsville near bridge

What’s the latest with the project?

The project will be bid in December to allow for continued coordination with Norfolk Southern and utilities, right-of-way clearance, ongoing bridge design as well as independent work on the Route 30 bridge before the detour on the Route 462 structure begins, said Mark A. Malhenzie, senior project manager.

The notice to proceed will likely be given to a contractor in February, and work will begin in the spring.

In Stage 1, crews will work underneath the bridge while traffic will be maintained on it. That is expected to take about 21 months, he said.

Construction of the roundabout will be completed during Stage 2 of the project, which is when the bridge will be closed for a period of time. The contract will require the roundabout to be completed within five months to minimize disruptions to the local network and community, Malhenzie said.

Stage 2 is expected to take about 16 to 18 months. The roundabout could be built any time during that period based on the contractors selected constructability methods, he said.

Rt. 462 Veterans Memorial Bridge: Latest on the rehabilitation plans, closure of the span

Mayfly mitigation on bridge scaled back

Some refinements to the plans have been made since PennDOT shared them with the public a few years ago.

Underlighting of the bridge will not be done because the maintenance costs would be too expensive for the municipalities, Malhenzie said. Minor provisions are being made so it could be added in the future.

To help with the mayfly mitigation, dual-color illumination will be used with the existing deck lighting, he said. When it’s mayfly season, amber-colored lights will be turned on. During the rest of the year, white lights will be used.

Some minor revisions also have been made to the bike and pedestrian trails connecting the bridge and Bike Route S to the local park and trail networks on each side of the structure, Malhenzie said. It was done with coordination of the municipalities.

Wrightsville road closures planned for lighting study

PennDOT says the brief closures on Tuesday night for the lighting study will affect the following locations:

  • North Second Street between Hellam Street/Route 462 and Locust Street.
  • South Second Street between Hellam Street/Route 462 and Orange Street.
  • Hellam Street between Second Street/Route 462 and Front Street.
  • Hellam Street between Second Street/Route 462 and Third Street.

Only one location will be closed at a time, and each closure will last about 30 minutes, the release states.

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