Central Susquehanna Valley Roadwork

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SUNBURY -- Bridge work starts Monday (7/26) at 7am on the Route 61/Shamokin Creek bridge near Sunbury. The bridge (near Zimmerman Motors, Market Street Sunbury) will be closed for two weeks.

The truck detour will use Reagan Street to connect to the Snydertown Road and cars may use 11th Street The detour then uses the Snydertown Road and Black Mill Road. The bridge may reopen by Friday, August 6th.

MIDDLEBURG -- PennDOT is repaving sections of Routes 104 and 522 in and around Middleburg. There will be flagging, delays in and near Middleburg for the next several months. The work will wrap up in October.

SELINSGROVE -- On Mill Road in Snyder County, PennDOT has started a bridge preservation project at the site of the former Camelback Bridge. Two lane traffic will be maintained with width restrictions.

Motorists are reminded to be alert to the work zone traffic and to drive accordingly.

The project is scheduled for completion by Oct.PennDOT maintenance crew in Union County will begin milling at some bridge approaches along Route 15 between Fourth Street and William Penn Drive at Lewisburg late this weekend.

The milling operation will begin Sunday night at midnight and continue into Monday morning. Paving is expected to begin sometime around sunrise Monday and continue up until 2 p.m. Paving will resume Tuesday morning at 6 and is expected to be completed by 2 Tuesday afternoon.

This work is designed to smooth out the roadway approaches at these bridges, which recently received epoxy deck overlays.

Motorists are advised of lane restrictions in the work zones and to plan for potential traffic backlogs and delays

bridge rehabilitation project on Route 42, about three miles south of Catawissa in Columbia County, will start in early August.

Prime contractor Glenn O. Hawbaker, Inc. plans to activate a temporary traffic signal on flash mode next Thursday at 10 a.m. This will be in flash mode for five days and then fully activated. This is near the Slabtown Road and 1.2 miles north of Slabtown.

This structure will be reconstructed in half-widths with traffic regulated by the temporary signals.

This is part of a project funded by the American Recovery & Reinvestment Act.

Completion is scheduled for late NovSUNBURY -- The Route 61/Veterans Memorial Bridge construction will change Tuesday when the workzone traffic patterns will shift from one side of the bridge to the other. Motorists should expect delays as the traffic patterns are switched. There will be a width restriction of 10 feet for vehicles crossing the bridge. Work will be complete this fall.

BLOOMSBURG -- Night work is underway on the Route 42 ramps at the interchange with Route 11 near the Bloomsburg Fairgrounds. Scheduled work hours are from 9 p.m. to 8 a.m. Ramps are closed during the night work only. This will be an evolving workzone and motorists are advised to watch for changes in this work area.

SELINSGROVE -- The Route 522 'Green' bridge over Penns Creek just north of Selinsgrove is scheduled for an in-depth inspection the week of July 26. Traffic impacts will be minimal on Monday through Wednesday. Thursday and Friday, July 29 and 30, single-lane restrictions will be needed while a lift is in use to inspect the overhead portions of the truss. The lane restrictions may be in effect from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. both days for the lane closures, but the inspectors will make an effort to finish as early as possible Friday to limit disruptions to afternoon traffic. Delays are possible. Motorists should plan extra time for their travels.

BLOOMSBURG – A repaving project is underway on Route 42 in Bloomsburg in the area of the Route 11 interchange. The work extends from the fairgrounds to the Frosty Valley Road intersection. There will be flagging, single lane traffic and lengthy delays. This project will be done near the beginning of August.

HEBE -- PennDOT has started a bridge replacement project on Klingerstown Road in lower Northumberland County. The bridge is just east Hebe between Green Acres Road and Hebe Bypass Road. A detour is posted and the work will be complete in late August.

BEAVER SPRINGS -- PennDOT is repaving a 4-mile section of Route 235 in Snyder County. The work is between Beaver Springs and Troxelville. There will be lane restrictions, width and flagging.  All work is scheduled for completion by Oct. 1

LEWISBURG -- PennDOT is working on two Route 15 bridges over Buffalo Creek at the north end of Lewisburg, just south of William Penn Drive in Union County. There will be single lane traffic in each direction. The work should be complete in about one week.

LEWISBURG -- PennDOT is repaving a section of Route 192 in Buffalo Township, Union County. The work is Buffalo Cross Roads  and Hoffa Mill Road to west of Fairfield Road. Traffic will be limited to a single lane through the work zone, with flaggers controlling traffic flow. Delays are possible. This work will take about a month.

MIDDLEBURG -- Later this summer, sections of Routes 104 and 522 through downtown Middleburg will be milled and repaved. There will be curb and sidewalk work as well. An updated travel advisory will be issued before work begins in Middleburg. This work will be done in October.

SUNBURY -- PennDOT has started road work a section of Catawissa Avenue/Sunbury Road. Work will extend from Market Street in Sunbury to Epler Road, for a total distance of 3.4 miles. The project completion date is September 24.

LEWISBURG -- In the Lewisburg area, on Airport Road, the bridge over Buffalo Creek is closed for rehabilitation. Do not turn off William Penn Drive onto Airport Road to access points to the south, such as the Wednesday Farmers’ Market in Lewisburg. Instead, use Route 192 to Fairground Road, if you’re coming from the north.

NORTHUMBERLAND -- In Point Township, Ridge Road is blocked for a bridge project. That work will be finished in the coming months.

MONTOURSVILLE -- PennDOT is doing work on the following bridges and there will be delays or detours:

-- Route 61 over Shamokin Creek just east of Sunbury in Upper Augusta Twp Northumberland County, signed detour dates to be announced later;

-- Fair Oak Road over a tributary to Penns Creek at the intersection with Salem Road in Penn Township, Snyder County, dates pending;

-- Buckwheat Valley Road over North Branch Mahantango Creek in Perry Township, Snyder County, dates pending;

-- Middle Creek Road over Krebs Gap Run in Spring Township, Snyder County, dates pending.

All of these bridge projects are scheduled for completion by Sept. 3.

KRATZERVILLE -- A second bridge has closed near the Kratzerville bridge replacement project. The latest bridge is a small span over a tributary to Penns Creek. Kratzerville Road/Penns Drive will be shut down between the two bridges. In addition, the west end of Hollow Road will be closed at its intersection with Penns Drive. Crews will be finished in October.

WINFIELD -- PennDOT has started work on a major widening and reconstruction project on Route 15 in Winfield. There is single lane traffic in both directions and some long peak travel delays. The work includes installing a center left turn lane, rebuilding the rail crossing and constructing of a new single, larger intersecting road--rather than several smaller intersecting roads. This project will be done by mid-November.

ORANGEVILLE/LIGHTSTREET -- PennDOT has started work on a repaving project between Lightstreet and Orangeville on Route 487. Traffic is down to one lane with flaggers controlling traffic. This work will be done by August.

BEAR GAP -- A bridge project has closed the bridge on Bear Gap Road over Mugser Run just east of the White Church Road intersection in Cleveland Township, Columbia County. A signed detour is in effect. The new bridge is expected to be in use by the end of July.

TREVORTON -- A bridge project on Lower Road in Little Mahanoy Township, Northumberland County is underway. The road is closed with traffic being detoured via Creek Road and Route 225. This project will be done August 20th.

CATAWISSA -- PennDOT advises motorists in Columbia County that businesses are open and accessible in Catawissa in the vicinity of the Route 42 Bridge rehabilitation project over Catawissa Creek. There have been some long traffic backups but the businesses are open and accessible, the bridge is open and controlled by temporary traffic signals, and there are long delays. Motorists are asked to avoid that area.

PAXTONVILLE  -- PennDOT is replacing the Paxton Street Bridge in Snyder County. This work will take place under daylight signing and flagging. The detour for all traffic will be implemented Tuesday. PennDOT expects the new bridge to be open to traffic by Nov. 19.

SUNBURY -- PennDOT is doing extensive road work in Sunbury. Already Front Street work and construction on the Veteran's Memorial Bridge is underway. The new work is on Market Street (Route 61). The contractor is restricting traffic to a single lane in the work zone at the intersections of Front and Market Streets (Routes 147 and 61) and Market and Fourth Streets (Route 61 and 4th Street), from 7 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. weekdays.

The project includes new ADA-compliant concrete curb ramps and traffic signal upgrades at the intersections with Route 147, 3rd Street, 5th Street and 11th Street. Also included are signal poles, traffic signals and control cabinets, video detectors, bituminous pavement replacement and new pavement markings. A short-term, 10-day detour will be implemented around mid-August for work at the intersection of Route 61 and 11th Street. The project is scheduled for completion by mid-October.

SUNBURY -- PennDOT is working on the Veteran's Memorial Bridge. There are 'full stops' on the 11 & 15 south on-ramp in Shamokin Dam, and the Front Street north on-ramp in Sunbury. There are lane shifts, single lane traffic and width restrictions. Motorists are reminded to be alert for changes during this active work zone and expect traffic delays. Work will be done by mid-September.

WHITE DEER -- The bridge rehabilitation project on Route 15 in White Deer, Union County has resumed. Traffic is restricted to one southbound lanes with a crossover at each end of the project. Northbound and southbound traffic each have one lane through the work zone. The project is scheduled to be completed by early August.

BLOOMSBURG -- Crews are working the Route 42 Bridge over Route 11 in Montour Township, just west of Bloomsburg. There are traffic shifts, lane changes, width restrictions, flagging and delays for Route 42. All work under this contract is scheduled for completion by Sept. 3.

MIFFLINBURG -- Starting in August, a PennDOT contractor will build a new westbound I-80 river bridge at Mifflinville. This $50 million, five-year project will involve building the new bridge between the existing bridges and working on several other bridges in that immediate area. Two lane traffic will be maintained. All of the work will be finished in 2015.

CATAWISSA -- During bridge work, Route 42 in the area of the Catawissa Creek Bridge in Catawissa, Columbia County is reduced to one lane, controlled by temporary traffic signals. Creek Road just north of the bridge project is closed at the intersection of Route 42 for the duration of this project.

Mountain Road just south of the bridge will remain open but will have an extremely tight turning radius for traffic wishing to head toward Catawissa. This project will be done by early November. There are long delays and Knoebel's Groves traffic approaching from the north is encourages to use Route 54.

KANTZ -- The bridge replacement project on Middle Creek Road over Middle Creek in Penn Township, Snyder County, is underway. A detour is in effect using Route 35 and Market Street. Work will be finished in late September.

Additionally, nearby, a bridge deck on Route 35 is being replaced a span over a tributary to Middle Creek, just west of Kantz in Washington Township, Snyder County. There are lane restrictions, flaggers and temporary signals. Slight delays should be anticipated. This work will be done in August.

BUCKHORN -- Work is underway in the east and westbound lanes of Interstate 80. Work is between Buckhorn and Lime Ridge, exits 232 and 241 and will continue until fall. Long delays are likely.

Additionally, the entire Route 42 Buckhorn/I-80 interchange/Columbia Mall entrance area is being reconstructed. There are extensive delays, flagging, new travel lanes and temporary driveways to businesses. Consider an alternative route or expect delays. Route 44 is closed at the intersection with Route 42.

MONTOURSVILLE -- PennDOT has implemented a new travelers advisory service. It is called 511 and motorists can log on to 511pa.com or call 511 from any phone to check traffic conditions before heading out. Voice prompts will help you localize the information and find out about potential traffic delays. Click here for the service.
 

Here is some PennDOT workzone safety advice:

- Penn DOT strongly urges motorists to pay full attention to their driving when approaching and passing through any highway work zone.  Obey the posted speed limit.  Refrain from tailgating.  Be alert to the possibility of slow-moving or stopped traffic ahead.  Bring along some relaxing music to listen to.  Plan extra time for your travels.  Always buckle up.

- All motorists are required to travel with their headlights turned on in all posted work zones, not just active workzones. It is necessary for drivers in vehicles with daytime running lights to turn on their headlights in order to activate their taillights. The penalty for driving without lit headlights in a posted work zone is $25.

-- Some Interstate work zones will have a speed-monitoring device to alert motorists of their speed prior to entering the work zone.

-- Active work zones are designated as such to notify motorists when they enter and leave the work zone. A white flashing light attached to the "Active Work Zone When Flashing" sign will indicate an active work zone. The flashing light will only be activated when workers are present and turned off when workers are not present.

-- Motorists caught driving 11 miles per hour or more above the posted speed limit in an active work zone, or who are involved in a crash in an active work zone and are convicted for failing to drive at a safe speed, automatically will lose their license for 15 days.

-- Fines for certain traffic violations – including speeding, driving under the influence, and failure to obey traffic devices – are doubled for active work zones. Also, the law provides for up to five years of additional jail time for individuals convicted of homicide by vehicle for a crash that occurred in an active work zone.

-- Don't let your friends drive drunk and DO appoint a designated driver. Remember--party hosts are often held liable for drunk driving accidents which follow parties.

During the winter months, PennDOT advises motorists to be alert to the possibility of snow squalls. Motorists need to be alert for squalls since they can quickly cause roads to become snow-covered and slick. In addition, heavy squalls can also cause whiteout conditions, virtually eliminating a driver’s visibility.

If motorists encounter snow squalls while traveling, PennDOT offers these suggestions:
-- Slow down gradually and drive at a speed that suits the conditions. 
-- Turn on your headlights. 
-- Stay in your lane. 
-- Increase your following distance.
-- Stay alert, keep looking as far ahead as possible and be patient.
-- Reduce in-car distractions since your full attention is required. 
-- Use defroster and wipers. 
-- Keep windows and mirrors free of snow and ice.
-- During whiteouts, come to a complete stop only when you can safely get as far off the road as possible or when there is a safe area to do so.
-- Do not stop in the flow of traffic since this could create a chain-reaction collision. 
-- Do not pass a vehicle moving slowly or speed up to get away from a vehicle that is following too closely.
-- Always buckle up and never drink and drive.

PennDOT reminds motorists of a new law requiring drivers the removal of all snow and ice from vehicles. There are severe fines if snow or ice that falls from their vehicle causes serious injury or death to other motorists or pedestrians.

The law states, "When snow or ice is dislodged or falls from a moving vehicle and strikes another vehicle or pedestrian causing death or serious bodily injury, the operator of the vehicle from which the snow or ice came is subject to a fine of $200 to $1,000 for each offense."

When driving during inclement weather, drivers should increase space between their vehicle and the vehicles ahead to allow for increased stopping distances, particularly on snow or ice covered roads.

Drivers are reminded to allow plenty of space around an operating snowplow and never attempt to get between several snowplows plowing side-by-side in a “plow train.” Plow trains are used on interstates and other limited access roads to clear as much of the road as possible in one pass.

Now is the time to prepare vehicles for winter weather to help avoid breakdowns. Motorists should have a mechanic check their vehicles’ battery, belts and hoses, heater and defroster, tires and anti-freeze level. Additionally, motorists should regularly check their wipers, lights, fluid levels and tire air pressure.

Among the items motorists should consider keeping in their vehicles if they expect to be far from home in extreme conditions are non-perishable food, a cellular telephone, water, a heavy blanket, a shovel, a warm hat, gloves, boots, a tow rope or chain, jumper cables, a bag of sand, portable cell phone charger and a brightly colored flag or other piece of material.

If motorists become stranded, they should stay in their vehicles and only run their engines and heaters every half hour, or so. Make sure tailpipes are clear and keep downwind windows open for fresh air. They should also tie a brightly colored flag onto the highest point of your vehicle to help rescuers locate them. PennDOT also recommends that travelers carry a cellular phone for safety.