The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) is reminding drivers that the westbound lanes of Interstate 376 will be closed near the Route 318 bridge in Shenango Township, Mercer County starting at 7:00 PM today.
Traffic on I-376 westbound will be detoured at Exit 1C (Route 318, West Middlesex) right before the bridge and will reenter the interstate at the nearby on-ramp. Drivers should anticipate slowdowns in that area and be alert for stopped traffic on the exit.
A flagger will be posted on Route 318 near the bridge to assist with minimizing backups and stopping traffic as needed.
Drivers may also encounter temporary lane restrictions on I-376 eastbound as needed over the weekend.
I-376 westbound is scheduled to be reopened by 5:00 AM Monday, April 22.
The closure is needed to safely remove the remaining portion of the Route 318 bridge.
The bridge deck and three of the beams over the eastbound lanes of I-376 sustained substantial damage after being struck by a semi-truck on December 7, 2023. That portion of the structure was demolished within days of the incident.
Work on removing the section over the westbound lanes is expected to run continuously until the demolish and clean up are complete.
The contractor for the demolition and the construction of the new bridge is Mekis Construction Corporation of Fenelton, PA. The contract cost is $5,145,068.12.
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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PennDOT District 1 is hiring for variety of positions, including CDL operators, mechanics, highway maintenance workers, civil engineers, construction inspectors, and transportation technicians. Apply online at www.employment.pa.gov.
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MEDIA CONTACT: Jill Harry, 814-678-5035 or jharry@pa.gov