Milepost A89 Hawk Falls

Bridge Replacement Project
Northeastern Extension Milepost A-88.59

Travel Advisories

08/08/2025 Travel Advisory

Southbound Northeast Extension to Close Overnight Aug. 9 Between Lehigh Valley and Quakertown for Bridge Construction

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Project Overview

The Hawk Falls Bridge Replacement Project is part of the continuing improvements scheduled for the Pennsylvania Turnpike's Northeast Extension (I-476).

Project Summary

This project includes the complete replacement of the Hawk Falls Bridge (NB-610), milepost A-88.59, and the nearby Hickory Run Road Bridge in Carbon County, PA.

Construction Start: Fall 2021

Construction Completion: Late 2026

Project Total: $88 million

General Contractor: Trumbull Corporation

Construction Manager: STV, Inc.

Design Consultant: Modjeski and Masters, Inc.

The existing Hawk Falls Bridge (Bridge NB-610) is a 738'-long, three-span deck truss bridge with deck I beam approach spans. It carries two lanes of Turnpike traffic in each direction over Mud Run in Penn Forest Township and Kidder Township, Carbon County. The existing bridge is scheduled for replacement because it is nearing the end of its design service life and considered functionally obsolete due to lack of roadway shoulders.

The replacement Hawk Falls Bridge will be a 720'-long steel structure featuring a 480' deck arch span flanked by four 60' deck plate girder spans. As with the current bridge, the new bridge will carry two traffic lanes in each direction, but it will also provide 12' wide outside shoulders and 6' wide median shoulders. Three welded, steel box arch ribs will be utilized to create an aesthetically pleasing structure that spans the deep Mud Run Valley located within Hickory Run State Park.

The Hickory Run Road Bridge, located directly to the north of the Hawk Falls Bridge, will also be replaced with this project. This three-span overpass bridge, measuring 111' in length, carries the PA Turnpike over PA State Route 534. It will be replaced with a new 120' long, single-span bridge. By eliminating the two existing concrete piers, the new bridge will provide a more open feel for travelers on Hickory Run Road, and also provides room for future roadway upgrades on this vital link through Hickory Run State Park.

To maintain smooth and consistent traffic flow on the Turnpike during construction, both new bridges will be constructed on a new roadway alignment just east of the current alignment. Once completed, traffic will be shifted to the new structures with only minor traffic control measures needed to complete the transitional roadway.