Rehab Work on Cedar Crest Bridge to Begin March 8

After a three-week delay, construction crews are now scheduled to begin work March 8 on the structurally deficient Cedar Crest Boulevard Bridge over Cedar Creek in South Whitehall and Allentown.

The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation issued the updated notice Thursday.

The months-long work to fix the 55-year-old single span, concrete box beam bridge . However, the contractor had a scheduling conflict, PennDOT has said.

Crews will replace the superstructure (deck and beam). The project is expected to be completed in September, PennDOT has said.

As part of the project:

• There will be new traffic patterns implemented on Cedar Crest Boulevard between Broadway/Parkway Boulevard and Union Street.
• Motorists should expect possible short-term lane restrictions with flagging on March 8, as these new patterns are set in place. 
• During construction, Cedar Crest Boulevard will remain open with one 10-foot travel lane in each direction.
• Access from Cedar Crest Boulevard to Parkway Boulevard will be maintained, but access from Cedar Crest Boulevard to Broadway will be restricted.
• Those travelling north on Cedar Crest Boulevard and wishing to access Broadway will be face a posted detour that will take them on the Route 222/Hamilton Boulevard Bypass and Haines Mill Road.
• Those travelling south on Cedar Crest Boulevard and wishing to access Broadway will face a posted detour that will take them on Tilghman Street and Springhouse Road.

Motorists are advised to allow for extra time when traveling through the area. 

All schedules are dependent on the weather. 

Clearwater Construction, Inc. of Mercer, is the general contractor. The cost of the project is $865,814. 

The Cedar Crest Boulevard Bridge was built in 1957. The superstructure is 63 feet long, 48 feet wide and is posted with a 34 ton weight restriction.