Patchwork keeps PA's bridges open

MATAMORAS — I-84 is getting some needed repairs, making it safer for vehicle traffic. Penn DOT (Pennsylvania Department of Transportation) has been conducting inspections of Interstate Highway 84 overpasses in Dunmore, Lackawanna County, Luzurne County and Pike County. John Palkovic and Bill Brownlee Jr. work for HRI Inc. of State College. Recently, they were using a hydraulic bucket truck to get up under the interstate’s overpass of US Route 6 in Matamoras. They attached brackets which will be part of the scaffold used by welders to make repairs. “We’re here inspecting the overpass which has been damaged over the years from rainwater runoff,” said Palkovic as he pointed to an area on one of the steel support beams with holes in it. “Those holes are from rainwater which has rusted the beam over the years. “ On the ground near the overpass were several assorted-size pieces of heavy steel plates which will be welded onto the beams to repair the damaged areas. “We’re also going to jack up the interstate highway by about one inch to replace the steel plates under the road structure where it rests on the concrete support beams. This won’t affect traffic as we do all our work from below,” said Palkovic. “We inspect the bridges every two years and more often if necessary,” said Penn DOT Press Officer Karen Dussinger. The work is called bridge preservation repairs, which are meant to prevent more serious issues at a later date. “We are financially burdened and as long as the repairs keep the bridges functioning it is perfectly safe for traffic,” reported Dussinger. If the overpasses were unsafe for heavy loads, one lane might have to be shut till repairs are completed. Winter snow plow trucks are very heavy, especially when they are loaded with snow melting salt. If the trucks were too heavy, Dussinger said, they would use smaller trucks which would be rented or borrowed from contractors. “We are concerned and keep up with necessary repairs. When a closing has to take place in very rural areas sometimes the traffic detour required is a great distance,” stated Dussinger. “We try not to close any major roads unless it is absolutely necessary.” As reported by issuespa.net, in 2005, 43 percent of Pennsylvania’s bridges were either structurally deficient or functionally obsolete, the fifth highest rate in the country and considerably higher than the national average of 26 percent. Compared to states with similar economic and climate conditions — Ohio, New Jersey, Illinois, Michigan, and New York — Pennsylvania has a higher percentage of bridges considered structurally deficient and functionally obsolete. Despite funding increases for bridges, Pennsylvania saw only a 1.4 percent reduction of bridges in poor condition from 1995-2005, while all five of the benchmark states experienced at least 16.5 percent reductions. Age is an important factor. In 2005, nearly one of every five bridges in Pennsylvania was over 75 years old, while another 20 percent were less than 25 years old. Pennsylvania has the highest rate of bridges over 50 years old (47.3 percent) and the lowest rate of bridges less than 25 years old.