The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) invites the public to an online public plans display for a project to replace the bridge that carries Route 6 over French Creek just south of the Borough of Saegertown in Crawford County.
The bridge is located on Route 6/Route 19 (French Creek Parkway) at the border of Hayfield and Woodcock townships near the intersection with Jordan Drive.
The project will replace the bridge at the existing location with a new two-span steel plate girder structure. The roadway across the bridge will have 11-foot travel lanes and 5-foot shoulders. The project also includes reconstructing the approach roadway pavement, upgrading guide rail and pavement markings, and placing rock to stabilize roadside slopes.
Work is expected to occur during the 2025 construction seasons.
A detour will be required during construction and is expected to be in place for approximately six months. The proposed 4.6-mile detour for motorized vehicles will be posted using Interstate 79, Route 6, Route 198 (Brookhouser Road). A bicycle detour will be posted using Jordan Drive.
The existing through-truss bridge was built in 1936. It is classified as poor condition. Approximately 7,200 vehicles a day use the bridge, on average.
A Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission boat access area is adjacent to the bridge. In addition, French Creek is a designated water trail. These recreational resources are protected under Section 4(f) of the United States Department of Transportation Act of 1966.
Also, the bridge carries PA Bike Route Y, which generally follows Route 6 across the northern tier of Pennsylvania, from Ohio to New York.
The information on the Route 6 Bridge Replacement including a handout, presentation, digital plans, and a comment form is available online. The webpage will remain active until December 29, 2023 and can be accessed by visiting the PennDOT District 1 website, www.penndot.pa.gov/District1.
Those unable to access the information online may give feedback by contacting PennDOT Project Manager Stephen A. Schettler at sschettler@pa.gov or 814-678-7356.
This is one of two Route 6 bridge replacements currently in design. Plans to replacement the other truss bridge carrying Route 6 over French Creek at the border of Hayfield and Woodcock townships, about one mile outside of Saegertown, was announced earlier this year and has a tentative construction date at 2027. Construction of the two bridges will be handled by separate contracts.
The purpose of the online plans display is to introduce the project and receive public input regarding any questions or concerns with 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 as well as gathering input from the public regarding impacts to Section 4(f) resources as noted.
The project documents will 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, contact Stephen A. Schettler, PennDOT Project Manager, at sschettler@pa.gov or 814-678-7356.
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.
Subscribe to PennDOT news and traffic alerts in Crawford, Erie, Forest, Mercer, Venango, and Warren counties at www.penndot.pa.gov/District1.
Information about infrastructure in District 1, including completed work and significant projects, is available at www.penndot.pa.gov/D1Results. Find PennDOT's planned and active construction projects at www.projects.penndot.gov.
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Contact: Jill Harry, 814-678-5035 or jharry@pa.gov
