The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) announced that the Wyalusing River Bridge is expected to reopen this week, nearly one month ahead of schedule.
The bridge suffered extensive damage when an oversized load struck several members on March 24. Upon inspection, the bridge was closed until repairs were completed.
The remaining work, which includes application of epoxy overlay on the damaged bridge deck, bridge painting, and line painting, will be completed this week, weather permitting.
Completed work includes design work, bridge inspections, bridge deck cleaning, procurement of steel, testing of steel, repair of 16 truss members, and replacement of eight cross members.
Repairs are completed in small sections to ensure the structural integrity of the bridge during the repair process. A detailed bridge inspection will also occur before reopening the bridge to the public. An update will be issued early this week once the opening date is determined.
The Wyalusing River Bridge, which carries Wyalusing New Albany Road (Route 2010) over the Susquehanna River in Terry and Wyalusing townships, Bradford County. The bridge was struck and damaged by an oversized load on Tuesday, March 24. PennDOT inspected the damaged bridge and determined that due to the extent of the damages, the bridge will remain closed until the repairs are made. A detour using Route 6 and Route 187 is in place.
PennDOT understands that the Wyalusing River Bridge is a critical connection for the residents of the northern tier and will continue to make this repair a priority and open this road as soon as possible. Due to the nature of how a truss bridge functions, where each member contributes to the overall structural integrity, even localized damage can affect the safety of the entire bridge. For this reason, the damaged bridge cannot safely carry traffic, even in a single lane configuration, until a full structural repair is completed.
More information can be found on the Wyalusing River Bridge Emergency Repair web page.
Built in 1942, the Wyalusing River Bridge is a 12-span bridge, including a four-span steel truss. The bridge is nearly 1,500 feet in length, has a reinforced concrete bridge deck, and has a vertical clearance of 14’ 9”. With an average daily traffic county of more than 5,500 vehicles, this bridge is an essential traffic corridor in the region. The bridge was last reconditioned in 1993 to prolong the life of the structure.
PennDOT reminds drivers to “Check Your Height, Know It’s Right”. Drivers are responsible for knowing the height of their vehicle – whether a personal vehicle or a rented one – and observing and complying with posted bridge heights. Using the “Check Your Height, Know It’s Right” tool, drivers can avoid hitting bridges with vehicles. According to PennDOT data, in the 10 years between 2013 and 2023, there were more than 600 bridge strikes to bridges or other overhead structures in PA.
Drivers can check conditions on major roads by visiting www.511PA.com. 511PA, which is free and available 24 hours a day, provides traffic delay warnings, weather forecasts, traffic speed information and access to more than 1,200 traffic cameras. 511PA is also available through a smartphone application for iPhone and Android devices, by calling 5-1-1, or by following regional X alerts.
Find PennDOT’s planned and active construction projects at www.pa.gov/DOTprojects. Subscribe to PennDOT news and find transportation results in Tioga, Bradford, Lycoming, Sullivan, Union, Snyder, Northumberland, Montour, and Columbia counties at www.pa.gov/DOTdistrict3.
