PennDOT plan to replace Fourth Street Bridge in North Irwin posted online

A virtual plan display for the proposed replacement of the Fourth Street Bridge in North Irwin is available online for area residents to view, PennDOT said.

The bridge, located west of the intersection of Route 993 and Main Street, has been closed for several years because of deteriorating conditions, project manager David J. Parker said.

PennDOT plans to replace the former three-span steel continuous girder-floor beam-stringer system that had a wooden deck carrying Fourth Street over the Norfolk Southern Railroad.

The agency said the existing bridge was built by the Pennsylvania Railroad Co. circa 1900 during the realignment of its rail lines in this area.

The proposed replacement consists of a 124-foot, single-span, steel girder bridge, with a 34-foot curb-to-curb bridge width that includes a 4-foot shoulder on one side and a 6-foot shoulder on the other for pedestrians to cross the railroad corridor.

The work includes asphalt roadway approaches, guide rail installation, sidewalks and replacing several inlet pipes to improve roadway drainage.

The project is scheduled to be bid in the fall of 2023. Construction is expected to begin late spring or early summer in 2024 and finish by the end of that year.

A project cost estimate was not available.

“We’re only in the preliminary engineering stage at this point,” Parker said.

Access to residences along West Broadway Avenue/Fourth Street will be maintained during construction, PennDOT said.

The virtual plans display includes project information, schedules and a location map. Access to the plan on the PennDOT website at PennDOT.pa.gov/District12 continues through May 9.

Those unable to access the information online may give feedback by contacting PennDOT Project Manager David J. Parker, P.E., at dajparker@pa.gov or 724-439-7157.

The purpose of the virtual public meeting and display of online plans is to introduce the project and receive public input regarding any questions or concerns with the project. It also is an opportunity for the public to review and comment on the project’s potential effect upon cultural resources pursuant to the National Historic Preservation Act.