The Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission over the past six years, has spent more than $240 million rehabilitating and replacing Turnpike bridges. In 1996 alone, the Turnpike spent $17.7 million rehabilitating and replacing 24 bridges across the 506-mile toll road.
        Frank Kempf, Bridge Engineer Manager for the Turnpike said that since 1990, 258 of the Turnpike 838 bridges were either replace or rehabilitated. "Bridge rehabilitation is a top priority at the Turnpike. We are committed to maintaining, rehabilitating and replacing Turnpike bridges to bring them up to current standards and ensure a safe, smooth and comfortable ride for our customers," Kempf said.
        Last year's most expensive bridge rehabilitation project was the $5.6 million redecking and widening of the bridge over Route 422 and North Gulf Road in Montgomery County west of the Valley Forge Interchange (exit 24).
        Other recent projects include the replacement of the original bridge at the Allegheny Valley Interchange (exit 5), Allegheny County, with two new bridges, replacement of a two-span concrete T-Beam bridge east of the New Stanton Interchange (exit 8), Westmoreland County, and replacement of a two span concrete T-beam bridge near the Kegg maintenance facility in Bedford County.
        This year alone, the Turnpike will begin more than $60 million in bridge rehabilitation and reconstruction work. That amount includes a multi-million dollar construction project of redecking and widening the Schuylkill River Bridge and Diamond Run Viaduct, located between the Valley Forge Interchange (exit 24) and the Norristown Interchange (exit 25) in Montgomery County. (See related story on page 1.)
        Turnpike Assistant Bridge Engineer Gary L. Graham said that during rehabilitation and reconstruction of Turnpike bridges, four lanes of traffic are usually maintained so that motorists are not inconvenienced.
        He explained that Turnpike bridges are inspected every two years. "We take measurements, look for cracking in the deck, deterioration of structural members and other deficiencies. Then, based on measurements and observations, complete an analysis to determine the structural capacity of the bridge." Kempf said that the biennial inspection process is crucial for prioritizing Turnpike bridge construction projects and deciding how to best and most effectively spend Turnpike resources.
        He explained that inspectors follow a nationally accepted scale for rating the individual components of the bridge's condition. "Every inch of every part of the bridge is examined including its wearing surface, guiderails and support beams," he said.
        Turnpike Bridge Maintenance Engineer Jim Stump said that the Turnpike Commission recently purchased a $363,000 state-of-the-art bridge inspection crane to support the Turnpike's biennial bridge inspection and bridge rehabilitation programs.
        "Since the crane does not require outriggers, the set up time for inspections is much quicker reducing inconvenience to Turnpike travelers. Another feature is the crane's long reach which allows for more efficient, thorough and safer inspections." Stump said. Team Coordinator - Truck Driver, in particular.

(see related story on page 2 and 3)

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