Officials said on Wednesday that there will be two new bridges over the Susquehanna River in the Pittston/West Pittston area by the middle to end of 2030, if everything goes according to plan.
During a public update session, Tim Benner of CDR Maguire Engineering addressed the group, emphasizing that the project is very extensive and involves more than just replacing a bridge. It also involves addressing poorly functioning intersections on both sides of the Susquehanna River, making both spans wider, and adding sidewalks for pedestrians, cyclists, and trucks.
The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation will take on the design and construction responsibility for replacing the state-owned Spc. Dale J. Kridlo Bridge (Fort Jenkins) and Luzerne County-owned Firefighters’ Memorial Bridge (Water Street) as part of a bridge bundling agreement.
Due to concerns about a bent eyebar, the Water Street Bridge closed in August 2021, causing a significant increase in traffic on the Fort Jenkins span.
The Fort Jenkins Bridge carries Route 11 over the Susquehanna, the county railroad, and Kennedy Boulevard, while the Water Street span crosses the river and railroad.
According to information presented by PennDOT on Wednesday, construction is expected to take more than three years and is set to begin in 2027.
The replacement project will start in 2027 and is estimated to take more than three years to complete.
The Water Street span will be the first to be replaced, and the first half of the new Fort Jenkins Bridge will be built off alignment on the Pittston side to speed up construction and improve traffic flow.
Once the new Water Street Bridge is finished, traffic will be redirected to this crossing so that the existing Fort Jenkins Bridge can be removed and the rest of the new span can be completed.
The project will involve:
• Reconstructing the intersection of Route 11 (Wyoming Ave) and Route 92 (Exeter Ave) and the intersection of Route 11 and North Main Street to accommodate the new bridge and address current traffic issues.
• Adding dedicated turning lanes on Wyoming Avenue, Luzerne Avenue, and Main Street
• Installing a new traffic light at the intersection of Exeter and Wyoming avenues in West Pittston and updating lights at Wyoming Avenue/Main Street in Pittston and Water Street/Kennedy Boulevard in Pittston.
• Modifying the intersection of Water Street and Kennedy Boulevard, as well as reconstructing Kennedy Boulevard and its ramps.
• Adding new sidewalks, curbs, pavement markings, and drainage throughout the reconstructed project area.
Benner stated that the decision to replace the bridges on the same general footprint was largely due to the historical significance of both West Pittston and Pittston being configured around the old bridges.
The Fort Jenkins Bridge, which is 1,333 feet long, opened in 1926, while the 1,016-foot Water Street Bridge was opened in 1914, with its piers dating back to around 1875 from a previous bridge.
One of Benner's presentation slides emphasized the traffic on both bridges before the Water Street bridge closed. Fort Jenkins averaged around 9,000 vehicles per day, including 9% trucks, as well as 120 pedestrians and 50 bicyclists. The vehicle count was 12,000 vehicles (8% trucks) on Water Street, with 70 pedestrians and 20 bicyclists.
Both new bridges will also help decrease the risk of flooding in West Pittston, partly because there will be fewer obstructive bridge supports, according to Benner.
Citizens posed various questions about specific changes and the impact of construction on their travel and safety.
Details about the project, as well as a form for comments, can be found on the PennDOT District 4-0 website. website on the Route 11 Section 350 Bridge Replacement Project webpage.
The comment form will remain open until May 22.
