Shohola bridge roadway is completed

SHOHOLA — PennDOT reported last Friday that the full width of the new Shohola-Barryville Bridge over the Delaware River between Pennsylvania and New York is open to traffic. Paving and pavement marking are complete. Some sidewalk work remains. Railing will be installed this winter. This $9.5 million project connects state Route 434 in Pike County with New York state routes 55 and 97 in Sullivan County, N.Y. The six-span bridge over the Delaware River between the village of Shohola, Pa., and Barryville, N.Y., is built slightly upstream from the former bridge. Its architectural treatments — stained, molded concrete piers and abutments — reflect the native blue stone piers. The ornate pedestrian railing, the balconies and signage recall the history of the area as well as its scenic landscape. The old Shohola-Barryville Bridge, completed in 1940, was open to traffic during the construction until the new bridge was opened a single lane to traffic on Oct. 24, 2006. The old bridge was razed late last winter to make room for the completion of the new bridge. The new structure has two 12-foot lanes and two 8-foot shoulders. Officials initially anticipated construction to begin in 2002, at a cost of $7.7 million. The structure was bid in Dec. 2003 and was awarded to Fahs-Rolston Paving Corp., in Binghamton, N.Y. Construction began in 2004, and was originally estimated for completion in late 2006. The project experienced delays due to three record floods on the Delaware River.