Bridge reopening celebrated as speedy team work

SHENANGO TWP., Pa. (WKBN) – A bridge over busy Interstate 376 in Mercer County is now open — less than a year after being demolished.

A brand new $6.5 million bridge now carries Route 318 over Interstate 376 in Shenango Township.

“We knew it was important for us to get it open as quickly as possible,” said Brian McNulty with PennDOT.

Back in December, there may have been more than a few who didn’t believe this day would come so soon after a truck hauling a roll-off dumpster on I-376 slammed into the bridge supports when its bed rose up.

Engineers quickly determined the overpass needed to be demolished. The replacement project was deemed an emergency and work began designing a new bridge.

“We had a great engineering design team in Michael Baker Internation who really took a process that often takes a year or two and they did it in about three months on this one,” McNulty said.

Within hours of the crash, demolition work began and construction started on the new span in April with crews putting in six-day weeks and even working weekends to minimize impact on the highway below, which carries about 13,000 vehicles each day.

“We had great suppliers, great subcontractors, and that’s what really makes the job a success,” said Steve Reed with Mekis Construction.

Although contractors and PennDOT officials celebrated the re-opening Friday, both lanes of traffic were allowed to cross again a couple of weeks ago. PennDOT Secretary Mike Carroll said declaring this work an emergency removed a lot of the bureaucracy.

“Not every project rises to that level. We don’t have the wherewithal in terms of PennDOT’s ability — our contractors and our consultants — to do every project in that kind of accelerated schedule,” Carroll said.

The thousands who use this overpass each day are grateful to have it open again.

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