Pennsyvania Turnpike Bridge Replacement Cost Pegged At $270 Million

NORTH SEWICKLEY TOWNSHIP, PA — The Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission will spend $270 million to replace the Beaver River Bridge in North Sewickley, Beaver County in Western Pennsylvania. The 70-year-old span carries the turnpike over the Beaver River, CSX and Norfolk Southern rail lines.

The contract to build the bridge was awarded despite the turnpike commission being $13.2 billion in debt, according to an audit released last month by Pennsylvania Auditor General Tom DeFoor. That's $2 billion more than the entire state debt of $11 billion.

The bridge project consists of two new parallel bridges that will replace the current steel deck truss bridge. The new eastbound and westbound bridges will carry three 12-foot travel lanes, one 12-foot acceleration and deceleration lane, and appropriate shoulders. The new eastbound and westbound bridges will be 1,645 feet long and will feature 385-foot spans.

Pittsburgh-based Joseph B. Fay, a subsidiary of S&B USA, will construct the new bridge. Fay has significant experience working on turnpike projects over the years - most recently on the Southern Beltway, the widening of the roadway between mileposts 31

Fay has done significant work for the PTC over the years, most recently section 55B of the Southern Beltway, the widening of mileposts 31-38 and the reconstruction of mileposts 2-10.

Earlier this year, Fay was awarded a $154 million contract to build roads and bridges at Pittsburgh International Airport. Additionally, Fay recently completed a six-year project at the new Shell cracker plant in Beaver County.