Fay, S&B USA Construction has been selected by the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) for a $25 million contract to rehabilitate the West Newton Bridge, a historic three-span bridge over the Youghiogheny River in West Newton, Westmoreland County.
The project will restore the 117-year-old, 492-linear-foot structure to a state of good repair, improve safety, and preserve the character of the historic landmark and infrastructure asset — while maintaining connectivity for the more than 6,500 vehicles and 100-plus non-motorized users who depend on it daily.
The West Newton Bridge carries State Route 136 (Main Street) across the Youghiogheny River, connecting the east and west sides of West Newton Borough. Built in 1907, the pin-connected Parker through truss bridge — comprising three 160-ft. spans — is currently classified in poor condition. It is also a well-known landmark along the Great Allegheny Passage (GAP), one of the nation's premier rail-trail corridors, making the bridge's rehabilitation significant not only to residents but to the regional cycling and outdoor recreation community.
Temporary Bridge Will Maintain Connectivity
A central feature of the project is a pre-constructed 500-ft. temporary steel bridge downstream of the existing structure to ensure uninterrupted connectivity and access for businesses, residents, and tourists. This temporary crossing will be built before the rehabilitation begins and provide access throughout the more than one-year closure of the historic bridge. Upon completion of the rehabilitation, Fay will remove the temporary bridge and its in-river piers, fully restoring the river corridor.
The temporary bridge will feature:
• Two 12-ft. travel lanes capable of supporting loaded tractor-trailers and emergency vehicles
• One 5-ft. pedestrian and bicycle sidewalk
• Connections linking North Water Street on the east side of the river to Collinsburg Road (SR 136) on the west side, adjacent to the existing bridge
The rehabilitation will be carried out in phases that began in summer 2026, with project completion targeted for late 2028. The existing bridge will be closed during the rehabilitation phase. Key elements of Fay's scope include complete replacement of the current bridge deck with a new grid deck and lightweight concrete; replacing the bridge sidewalk with a corrosion-resistant fiberglass-reinforced polymer composite walkway; replacing or repairing the trusses, sidewalk supports, and substructure; bearing repair and replacement; masonry and aesthetics; and relocation of water, gas, and overhead utility lines.
Fay expects to hire a number of regional subcontractors to perform work such as launching the temporary bridge, electrical upgrades, and painting the bridge's steel structure.
"The West Newton Bridge is more than transportation infrastructure — it is the community's main river crossing and a landmark for thousands of cyclists who travel the Great Allegheny Passage each year," said Bryan Frye, project executive, Fay. "The Fay team will rehabilitate, improve and preserve this historic structure with our technical bridge-building expertise, disciplined execution, and industry-leading safety performance while minimizing disruption to the community."
Second Contract for +100-Year-Old Bridge
The West Newton Bridge rehabilitation marks the second 100-plus-year-old bridge over the Youghiogheny River and GAP trail that Fay has been selected by PennDOT to address. In Jan. 2026, Fay was awarded a contract to replace the Layton Bridge in Perry Township, Fayette County — a 17-span steel Pratt Truss structure built in 1899 at the end of its service life.
The Layton project involves full replacement of the one-lane structure with a two-lane, modern composite steel I-girder bridge. Both projects underscore Fay's reputation as a trusted partner for complex, community-sensitive bridge projects over storied waterways.
