Post by PghEduJobs on Jul 10, 2008 19:58:44 GMT -5
What a piece of crap... morning commute will be a nightmare
www.post-gazette.com/pg/08192/895906-56.stm
- formerly the Homestead High Level Bridge -- which was completed last year.
Now, the county has started renovating the 12-span, deck-truss Rankin Bridge that crosses the Monongahela River between Rankin and Whitaker.
The long-needed project will take more than two years to complete and will cause major disruptions for Mon Valley motorists trying to get to the Parkway East and for visitors to Kennywood Park for two summers beginning next year.
The bridge, which has needed a paint job for a generation, also was rated structurally deficient by the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation. On a scale of 0 to 9 with 9 the best, the bridge rates a 4 in both deck and superstructure and a sufficiency rating of 31 on a scale of 0 to 100.
The first phase of the $60 million project started last week and will continue until 2010, said Joe Hrabik, deputy director of the county Public Works Department.
"We have started work on widening the on-ramps on the Rankin side, and the contractor is in the process of moving in much of the equipment for the project," said Mr. Hrabik.
In an unrelated project, contractors also are widening South Braddock Avenue approaching the bridge in front of the Hawkins Village public housing complex.
Robinson-based Mosites Construction Co. won the $47.5 million general construction bid for the bridge project, Mr. Hrabik said, but the entire cost of the renovation is expected to exceed $60 million, including construction management, design and right-of-way costs.
The first phase of the renovation, including the widening of lanes, sidewalks and approach ramps on Kenmawr and Talbot avenues, will continue until September.
Then, phase two will begin with the closing of both lanes on the downstream side of the bridge. The remaining two lanes will carry one lane of traffic in each direction from September until fall next year.
The final phase will start in fall 2009 and end in fall 2010 when the newly expanded lanes on the downstream side will be open to traffic -- one lane in each direction.
"Our most important consideration is maintaining traffic flow on the bridge at all times," said Mr. Hrabik, noting that motorists should expect a minimum of a 15- to 20-minute backup on the bridge during the renovation.
Mr. Hrabik said the county, PennDOT and the Federal Highway Administration have been in talks with Kennywood officials on ways to ameliorate potential traffic backups.
"We are going to try and make it as painless as possible. We're going to have police officers from Munhall, Whitaker and Rankin on that bridge during peak times in the summer," Mr. Hrabik said.
The bridge will be fully closed twice during the entire renovation, and both times will be when Kennywood is closed for the season.
Jeff Filicko, a spokesman for Kennywood, said the amusement park already has taken steps to notify customers of alternate routes on its Web site.
"The good thing is that many of our customers already know the area so well that they will know how to get around [the bridge construction]," he said.
Typically, weekends in July and August are the busiest times for the park, Mr. Filicko said, "but we're a Pittsburgh institution. By and large, people who come frequently will know how to get around."
When all is said and done, the renovation will involve the widening of the bridge and reinforcing its deck, which will consist of four travel lanes and two shoulders with added bridge barriers.
The entire deck superstructure will be repainted and new bridge lighting and drainage systems will be added. In addition, the approach roadways and ramps will be upgraded and the existing on-ramp from Kenmawr Avenue will be eliminated.
Karamagi Rujumba can be reached at krujumba@post-gazette.com or 412-263-1719.
First published on July 10, 2008 at 9:07 am
www.post-gazette.com/pg/08192/895906-56.stm
- formerly the Homestead High Level Bridge -- which was completed last year.
Now, the county has started renovating the 12-span, deck-truss Rankin Bridge that crosses the Monongahela River between Rankin and Whitaker.
The long-needed project will take more than two years to complete and will cause major disruptions for Mon Valley motorists trying to get to the Parkway East and for visitors to Kennywood Park for two summers beginning next year.
The bridge, which has needed a paint job for a generation, also was rated structurally deficient by the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation. On a scale of 0 to 9 with 9 the best, the bridge rates a 4 in both deck and superstructure and a sufficiency rating of 31 on a scale of 0 to 100.
The first phase of the $60 million project started last week and will continue until 2010, said Joe Hrabik, deputy director of the county Public Works Department.
"We have started work on widening the on-ramps on the Rankin side, and the contractor is in the process of moving in much of the equipment for the project," said Mr. Hrabik.
In an unrelated project, contractors also are widening South Braddock Avenue approaching the bridge in front of the Hawkins Village public housing complex.
Robinson-based Mosites Construction Co. won the $47.5 million general construction bid for the bridge project, Mr. Hrabik said, but the entire cost of the renovation is expected to exceed $60 million, including construction management, design and right-of-way costs.
The first phase of the renovation, including the widening of lanes, sidewalks and approach ramps on Kenmawr and Talbot avenues, will continue until September.
Then, phase two will begin with the closing of both lanes on the downstream side of the bridge. The remaining two lanes will carry one lane of traffic in each direction from September until fall next year.
The final phase will start in fall 2009 and end in fall 2010 when the newly expanded lanes on the downstream side will be open to traffic -- one lane in each direction.
"Our most important consideration is maintaining traffic flow on the bridge at all times," said Mr. Hrabik, noting that motorists should expect a minimum of a 15- to 20-minute backup on the bridge during the renovation.
Mr. Hrabik said the county, PennDOT and the Federal Highway Administration have been in talks with Kennywood officials on ways to ameliorate potential traffic backups.
"We are going to try and make it as painless as possible. We're going to have police officers from Munhall, Whitaker and Rankin on that bridge during peak times in the summer," Mr. Hrabik said.
The bridge will be fully closed twice during the entire renovation, and both times will be when Kennywood is closed for the season.
Jeff Filicko, a spokesman for Kennywood, said the amusement park already has taken steps to notify customers of alternate routes on its Web site.
"The good thing is that many of our customers already know the area so well that they will know how to get around [the bridge construction]," he said.
Typically, weekends in July and August are the busiest times for the park, Mr. Filicko said, "but we're a Pittsburgh institution. By and large, people who come frequently will know how to get around."
When all is said and done, the renovation will involve the widening of the bridge and reinforcing its deck, which will consist of four travel lanes and two shoulders with added bridge barriers.
The entire deck superstructure will be repainted and new bridge lighting and drainage systems will be added. In addition, the approach roadways and ramps will be upgraded and the existing on-ramp from Kenmawr Avenue will be eliminated.
Karamagi Rujumba can be reached at krujumba@post-gazette.com or 412-263-1719.
First published on July 10, 2008 at 9:07 am