LEWISTOWN — Bridge maintenance and cleaning is among PennDOT projects slated for the week of Aug. 18 in Mifflin County, according to the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation.

PennDOT will work on Route 322 eastbound at a pair of bridges spanning Kishacoquillas Creek, approximately a mile south of Reedsville in Brown Township, Monday through Thursday. PennDOT will implement single-lane closures while this work is completed.

Pennsylvania has some of the oldest bridges in the country, with an age of more than 50 years on average. Preventive maintenance is vital in extending the life of the structures. As such, PennDOT maintenance crews perform some bridge deck patching

and structural repairs.

Pipe replacement and cleaning

• Route 2006 (Summit Road) between Route 522 and Romig Lane in Decatur Township. Thursday and Friday. Flaggers in the roadway will provide traffic control during daylight hours.

• Pipe replacement and cleaning are essential in maintaining water flow around state roadways. Controlling water flow is one of the most important aspects of maintaining pavements. Uncontrolled water flow will damage both the pavement surface and the area under the pavement, causing deterioration across the length of the pipe.

Shoulder Maintenance

Route 655 between the Huntingdon-Mifflin County line in Menno Township and Route 1005 (Tea Creek Road) in Brown Township Monday through Friday. Flaggers in the roadway will provide traffic control during daylight hours.

Route 2002 (Belltown Road) between Alfarata Road and Epperson Lane in Decatur Township Tuesday and Wednesday. Flaggers in the roadway will provide traffic control during daylight hours.

Route 2006 (Summit Road) between Howell Lane and Bear Run Road in Decatur Township Monday and Tuesday. Flaggers in the roadway will provide traffic control during daylight hours.

Shoulder cutting removes excess material and debris from unpaved shoulder areas. Shoulder grading involves the shaping and stabilizing of those same areas. Both operations improve drainage, allow water to leave the roadway, and eliminate shoulder drop-offs. These are crucial highway maintenance operations because when drainage systems do not function properly, water collects on the road, weakens pavement, accelerates the formation of potholes, and creates the potential for icing conditions in the winter months.

This schedule is subject to change due to weather conditions, emergencies, or other unforeseen interruptions.