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PORT ROYAL -- The Juniata River Bridge at Route 75 in Port Royal is coming down.
At least, part of the existing bridge will be demolished at
1:30 a.m. on Tuesday, May 9, according to a release issued by the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation Thursday.
As replacement work continues on the Port Royal bridge, crews from HRI Inc. of State College will be on site until 9:30 a.m. to clear debris, inspect the railroad and complete any needed repairs to the line.
In the interest of public safety, PennDOT asks that bystanders stay away from the work site during this demolition. HRI Inc. crews will continue demolition of the abutments and wing walls during daylight hours the rest of the week.
"PennDOT is reminding pedestrians not to pass safety fencing, caution tape, or other barricades within this active work zone. Any unauthorized people within the work zone will be escorted away," cautioned PennDOT Safety Press Officer Timothy Nebgen.
The Port Royal bridge spans the Norfolk Southern Railroad and a detour around the construction zone as the bridge closure remains in place. The detour uses Old 22 Road/Main Street (Route 3002), Route 35 and Route 333 before returning to Route 75.
Homeowners near the bridge can still access their properties.
Additionally, PennDOT has temporarily reduced the speed limit on Route 35 to 35 miles per hour from 45 mph. Signage was installed on Thursday between Mowery Street and Varnes Road in Port Royal.
"This reduction is intended to enhance motorists' safety on Route 35 by curbing speeding, a common type of aggressive driving behavior," Nebgen said.
The change was prompted by the road's inclusion in a detour route for the ongoing bridge replacement project. This reduction, along with two radar-controlled speed display boards placed last month, will remain in place until construction for the ongoing project wraps up in mid-September.
Preliminary work on this $4 million project started in mid-September 2022 by demolishing a two-story building on Second Street in Port Royal. PennDOT expected demolition of the bridge to begin in early January, but work coordination issues between the railroad and PennDOT resulted in delays.
Overall work on the project involves partial removal of the existing structure and construction of its replacement, approach paving, drainage improvements, and water and sewer line replacements. Also included are sidewalk and guide rail replacement, pavement markings, and miscellaneous construction. HRI Inc. is the contractor on this project.