The new $88 million Hawks Fall Bridge in Pennsylvania is officially complete, with transportation officials marking the occasion during a May 26 ribbon cutting ceremony.
"Every Pennsylvanian deserves a safe and reliable transportation network and that includes modernized bridges, like Hawk Falls, that improve access and traffic flow, helping motorists arrive at destinations safely and quickly," said Michael Carroll, chairman of the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission (PA Turnpike) and Pennsylvania secretary of transportation, in a press release.
The replacement enhances safety and mobility for travelers along the Pennsylvania Turnpike through Carbon County as traffic volumes on the span continue to grow beyond pre-pandemic levels, according to PA Turnpike’s press release.
Like the original structure, the new bridge carries two lanes of traffic in each direction, but now includes wider shoulders and medians. Officials said the use of weathering steel and the elimination of expansion joints will reduce long-term maintenance needs and improve the bridge’s lifespan.
"The opening of the new Hawk Falls Bridge shows that even after 85 years, we're still leading the way in providing safe and convenient travel to our customers throughout our beautiful Commonwealth," said Mark Compton, PA Turnpike CEO.
According to PA Turnpike's project website, the replacement is a 720-foot-long steel structure featuring a 480-foot deck arch span and four 60-foot deck plate girder spans.
The project also replaced the nearby Hickory Run Road Bridge, which carries the Pennsylvania Turnpike over Pennsylvania State Route 534 north of Hawks Fall Bridge. The new single-span structure measures 120 feet long. Officials said removing the bridge’s two existing concrete piers creates more open design and allows for future roadway improvements.
Both bridges were constructed on a new alignment east of the existing roadway to minimize impacts to traffic during construction. Traffic will shift to the new structures using only minor traffic control measures.
Sources: PA Turnpike press release, PA Turnpike project website
