The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) invites the public to a virtual plans display for a project to replace the State Route 645 (Camp Swatara Road) Bridge over Little Swatara Creek in Bethel and Tulpehocken townships, Berks County.
This online plans display includes digital picture boards and an online comment form available to the public until April 3, 2023.
The proposed project will replace the existing 200-foot long, three-span, steel I-beam bridge that is structurally deficient.
The structure will be replaced with a 240-foot long, three-span, prestressed concrete spread box beam bridge consisting of two 11-foot lanes (one southbound and one northbound) with 5-foot shoulders on both approaches and across the proposed bridge.
Route 645 (Camp Swatara Road) currently has an average daily traffic volume of 2,456 vehicles.
During construction vehicular traffic will be detoured. The proposed passenger vehicle detour length is approximately 3.9 miles, which utilizes Frystown Road, Little Mountain Road and Kutztown Road. The proposed truck detour length is approximately 9.1 miles and utilizes Interstate 78, Route 501, and Rosebud Road.
Access to driveways within the project limits will be maintained at all times during construction.
The project is anticipated to be constructed during the 2025 and 2026 construction seasons. All schedules are subject to change.
PennDOT invites community members to provide public input for the project. To access the webpage, visit www.PennDOT.gov/District5 click on the Public Meetings link under the District Links heading, pick the Berks County box, and then choose the Route 645 Bridge over Little Swatara Creek project tile.
The purpose of the plans display is to introduce the project and solicit public input, questions, or concerns regarding the project. It is also an opportunity for the public to review and comment on the project’s potential effect upon Cultural Resources pursuant to the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation’s 36 CFR Part 800 regulations implementing Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act.
The project documents can be made available in alternative languages or formats if requested. If you need translation/interpretation services or have special needs or have special concerns that require individual attention, please contact Mark Rhan, P.E., Consultant Project Manager, at 717-216-5287 or email at c-mrhan@pa.gov.
Pursuant to Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, PennDOT does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, gender, age, or disability. If you feel that you have been denied the benefits of, or participation in a PennDOT program or activity, you may contact the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation, Bureau of Equal Opportunity, DBE/Title VI Division at 717-787-5891 or 800-468-4201.
For more information on projects occurring or being bid this year, those made possible by or accelerated by the state’s transportation funding plan (Act 89), or those on the department’s Four and Twelve Year Plans, visit www.projects.penndot.gov.
Motorists can check conditions on major roadways 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 1,000 traffic cameras.
511PA is also available through a smartphone application for iPhone and Android devices, by calling 5-1-1, or by following regional Twitter alerts accessible on the 511PA website.
Follow regional PennDOT information on Twitter at www.twitter.com/511PAAllentown, and like the department on Facebook at www.facebook.com/PennsylvaniaDepartmentofTransportation.
Contact: Ronald J. Young, Jr., M.P.A., 610-871-4555, ronyoung@pa.gov; Sean A. Brown, 610-871-4556, sebrown@pa.gov.
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