Photo courtesy of PennDOT
The project includes more than 300,000 cu. yds. of excavation and more than 4,000,000 lbs. of reinforcing steel.
PennDOT recently reported on the progress of a bridge replacement project in Lackawanna County, Pa.
The contract of $113 million was awarded to J.D. Eckman Inc., with multiple people in charge of this project. Work began in the spring of 2020 and is planned for completion by summer 2026.
The Interstate 84 Bridge Replacement and Interchange Configuration Project includes the replacement of two mainline bridges carrying I-84 eastbound and westbound over Roaring Brook and the active Delaware, Lackawanna and Western (DL&W) Railroad and the reconfiguration of Exit 2 with SR 435 in Dunmore Borough and Roaring Brook Township, Lackawanna County.
Photo courtesy of PennDOT
The current left-hand exit to SR 435 southbound will be reconfigured with a more conventional right-hand exit that includes a structure carrying the ramp over both I-84 eastbound and westbound.
PennDOT reported that the difficult project site includes an active railroad, Roaring Brook, and steep terrain requiring the construction of several access roads, staging areas, crane pads and a temporary stream crossing of Roaring Brook for construction access, erection and removal of the existing bridges.
"During the construction of the original Twin Bridges back in 1972, the shot-rock from the rock cut just west of the bridges seemed to be used in all the fill areas," said Jessica Ruddy, community relations manager of PennDOT's Engineering District 4. "This has been a challenge to determine what type of support excavation is best utilized."
In addition, she said that the designed Continuous Steel Girder system has been a challenge to engineer the erection procedures for this project in coordination with available crane pad locations.
"This project is unique due to the major slopes that the twin bridges carry over," Ruddy said "The slopes pose difficulties in construction equipment access, demolition of the existing structures, as well as erection of the new girders."
They are 228 ft. to 330 ft. spans using Continuous Steel Girder systems. The tallest height from ground elevation to the bottom of the girders is 130 ft.
Ruddy said the job is currently on schedule, with five to 40 people assigned to the project depending on the work being completed at any given time.
According to Ruddy, the project includes more than 300,000 cu. yds. of excavation and more than 4,000,000 lbs. of reinforcing steel.
Major equipment used on the job, all owned, includes a Manitowoc 110 lattice boom crawler crane, a Manitowoc 999 lattice boom crawler crane and a Liebherr 1300 lattice boom crawler crane.
Ruddy added that the main subcontractor on this project is Kriger Construction of Scranton, Pa. Much of the scope of work is roadway construction through subbase including pipe/inlet installation and roadway cut/fill sections.
Phase 1 of the project involved the construction of a 12-ft. travel lane in the median on the eastern side of the Interstate 84 eastbound bridge. Once constructed, the right lane on Interstate 84 was closed to traffic and traffic was shifted into the left lane and the newly constructed lane. The right lane is being used to access the staging area and temporary access road.
Photo courtesy of PennDOT
Phase 1A construction was to prepare the project site to begin construction. An existing, abandoned railroad bridge carrying the former Erie & Wyoming Valley (E&WV) Railroad over DL&W Railroad and Roaring Brook also will be rehabilitated as part of the project to facilitate construction access. The bridge will be returned to Lackawanna County after construction is completed and will be incorporated into a future walking trail system.
Phase 2 construction involves the construction of a portion of the new Interstate 84 (EB) roadway and bridge on the new alignment in the median between Interstate 84 eastbound and westbound. Traffic will use the newly constructed roadway and bridge during the demolition of the existing Interstate 84 (EB) bridge and the construction of the remaining portion of the new Interstate 84 (EB) bridge and roadway in phase 3.
Phase 3 of construction will include the demolition of the existing Interstate 84 (EB) bridge and the start of construction of the remaining portion of the new Interstate 84 (EB) bridge and roadway. State Route 435 exit ramps and fly-over bridge will also be constructed in this phase. CEG
Brenda Ruggiero
Brenda Ruggiero has written for CEG for over 20 years. She lives near the town of Accident in far western Maryland. Her favorite assignments so far involved interviews with Survivor’s Boston Rob and hot dog eating champion Joey Chestnut. Both were involved in construction at one time.
Brenda holds a BA in Mass Communication with a writing focus from Frostburg State University and minors in Public Relations and Political Science. She works full time as a staff writer for a weekly newspaper, the Garrett County Republican. She enjoys feature writing the most, which gives her the opportunity to talk to people and share their stories.
Brenda and her middle school sweetheart, Reuben, have been married for over 34 years and have three grown children and four cats.
Read more from Brenda Ruggiero here.
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