Groundbreaking Ceremony for New Lehigh River and Pohopoco Creek Bridges

A groundbreaking ceremony marked the official start of construction of the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission’s new Lehigh River and Pohopoco Creek bridges along the Northeast Extension of the Pennsylvania Turnpike (I-476).

Urban is the construction manager for the $101.6 million project to replace the twin bridges that cross the Lehigh River, Pohopoco Creek, Lehigh Canal, PA State Route 248, the former Lehigh Valley Railroad, and an active Norfolk Southern rail line. The bridges, originally constructed in 1957, are located approximately two miles north of the Lehigh Tunnel in Carbon County, PA.

The Lehigh River Bridge is sited 75 feet above the river and has an individual span length of 150 feet between piers. The Pohopoco Creek Bridge is 120 feet above the creek with an individual span length of 145 feet between piers.

The project is scheduled for completion on November 2012.

Present at the ceremony was Turnpike CEO Joe Brimmeier, legislators, and executives representing the chief participating engineering/design and construction firms. Project Manager Jeffrey W. Wendel, PE, and Executive Vice President Joseph P. McAtee, PE, represented Urban.