MOUNT PLEASANT - The state Department of Transportation will start repairing roadways this week, but the Interstate 81 overpass in Foster Township will have to wait until the summer.
The bridge on Route 901 was damaged after it was hit by a vehicle sometime in December.
"We don't know what type of vehicle hit the bridge underneath, but it did cause enough damage to one of the beams to have that beam removed," Ron Young, press officer for PennDOT District 5, Allentown, said Thursday.
Young said that beam and a portion of the deck were removed in December and a protective barrier was put in place to shift the lanes.
"The plan is to get a new beam in there and restore the bridge to its original width and travel lanes," Young said. "We anticipate the designs will be completed in late spring and to start construction in mid to late summer and have it completed by mid-fall."
He said the damage was beyond the capabilities of the county maintenance staff and the project will have to be put out to bid. The accident that caused the bridge went unreported.
PennDOT maintenance crews will be doing sealing work throughout Schuylkill County between 7 a.m. and 3 p.m. on Interstate 81 between exits 112 and 119, 124 and 134, and Route 895 and the Lehigh County line. There may be lane restrictions in both northbound and southbound lanes. Delays should be expected. Work will start today and should be completed by Friday.
There will be shoulder restrictions between exits 90 and 107 on Interstate 81 from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. today through Friday for survey work being done by a PennDOT contractor.
Pothole patching started today and will continue from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. until Friday between Route 61 and Main Street on Mount Carbon Arch Road/South Centre Street, Mount Carbon, and between Kelayres Road and Route 54 on Route 309 in Rush and Kline townships.
PennDOT crews will be cutting brush on Route 209 between Catawissa Street and Route 309 in Tamaqua and Schuylkill Township from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. today through Friday. There will be lane restrictions with flagging.
A PennDOT contractor will be installing pipes on Route 895 between Fort Lebanon Road and Route 61 in Deer Lake and West Brunswick Township as part of the Route 61 project. Work will be done from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. today through April 13.
Also as part of the same project, another PennDOT contractor will be repairing potholes between Route 895 east and west in Deer Lake and West Brunswick Township. Crews will work from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. today until Friday.
Rain will cause delays on all the projects.