The 5 mi. (8 km) stretch of State Route (SR) 6 in Warren County may not be the same moss-covered route that the Eagles sang about in 1980, but this “seven bridges” road project takes place in an equally scenic area near Youngsville, Pa.

The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) project began in March 2008 and is expected to be completed this month. The starting point on the west is at the intersection of SR 6 and SR 27. It spans approximately 5 mi. east, ending at the Tionesta exit to SR 62. Funding for the project is 80 percent federal and 20 percent state.

Five of the bridges along this route will have deck rehabilitation and two bridges will be demolished and reconstructed due to structural deficiency. SR 62 and SR 3022 (Old Route Six), which both cross over SR 6, will be completely replaced.

The $7,577,472 project is led by L.C. Whitford Company of Wellsville, N.Y. Whitford is performing all of the earthwork and bridgework. The project was divided into two phases. Phase 1, which officially began in the spring of 2008, was preceded by temporary cross-over work performed in the fall of 2007. Cross-overs were constructed to span east to west over the medians.

During Phase 1, Brokenstraw Bridge No. 1 was rehabilitated. Brokenstraw Bridge No. 2 consists of two bridges — one eastbound and one westbound. Both were rehabilitated during this phase, along with the Irving Run Bridge. The reconstruction of the SR 62 bridge was completed at this time also.

Phase 2, which picked up on March 30, 2009, includes work on the ramp bridge leading to SR 62 and the overall reconstruction of the SR 3022 bridge.

Subcontractors on the job include Swank Associated Companies of New Kensington, Pa., for sawcutting and relief joints; Green Acres Contracting Company of Scottdale, Pa., is providing guiderails; line painting is being performed by Williams & Willman Line Painting of Kittanning, Pa.; IA Construction Corporation of Zelienople, Pa., is paving, and Clarks Traffic Control of Homer City, Pa., was contracted for traffic control.

Structural Services Inc. of Bethlehem, Pa., is removing the old beams on the deck rehabilitations. New signage is provided by Strongstown’s B&K Enterprises Inc. of Strongstown, Pa.

Whitford is using 2,419 cu. yds. (1,850.5 cu m) of Class A concrete for pier repairs, footings and concrete below beam seats. A total of 1,743 cu. yds. (1,333.4 cu m) of Class AA concrete will be used for diaphragms, backwalls, cheekwalls, U-walls, shear blocks and parapets. The concrete decks and sidewalks require 492 cu. yds. (376.4 cu m) of Class AAA concrete.

“There have been multiple traffic control patterns on the project, but no major delays,” said PennDOT Project Manager, Adam Hoisington. “The project has been cut and dry; the five rehabs have mirrored each other as well as the two reconstructions.”

The arsenal of machinery on the job includes a Terex HR420, a Terex HR140, a Terex HR32, a Daewoo 300LCV, and a Hitachi ZX200 for excavation. Whitford also is using a Cat D4 dozer, a Bomag 124D steel drum roller, a Volvo L50C front-end loader and a Cat M318 wheeled excavator for the bridge rehabs and reconstructions. CEG

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