Damaged - Now Demolisihed - Bridge on I-70 (between N.Stanton - Washington)

[Mr_Northside]

Apparently some over-height truck hit the original span, and PennDOT decided that demolition was the only way to go.

http://www.thepittsburghchannel.com/news/25436390/detail.html

(Most PGH news outlets have articles on the matter)

They mention the option of replacement of a "duplicate" or a "wider" bridge.  I'm pretty sure they're working on a couple of projects on this stretch of I-70, where the highway will be slightly widened so that it's not quite as horribly substandard... so I doubt they want to build a new bridge to the old specs that they'd be stuck with.  But since it's an "emergency" it will get done, either way.

Also, it was fortunate that the bridge was part of a traditional diamond exit, allowing for a minimal "detour".

[exit322]

It'd do them some good to restructure a lot of those exits, too.  How many of the roads exited between NS & Washington even have enough traffic to really be useful?

[ShawnP]

Talk about a Interstate begging for upgrades.

[PAHighways]

This incident is just to the east of where the Lakeview Drive overpass was hit and damaged in 2005, and subsequently demolished.

It'd do them some good to restructure a lot of those exits, too.  How many of the roads exited between NS & Washington even have enough traffic to really be useful?

At least 21 of the 28 between 79 and 76.

[ShawnP]

Worst rural Interstate in the nation IMHO that stretch is. Traveled it many times going from Missouri to Deleware and back. Then that damn Scamwood exit.

[PAHighways]

The driver had a permit to haul the oversized load, but the permit said he was required to take the exit and get back on 70 to avoid that bridge.  Either he failed to read that part or ignored it thinking it was an error is anyone's guess.

None of the bridges along that section of 70 are marked as low clearance locations on PennDOT's Truckers' Guide.

[Sykotyk]

He probably either didn't pay attention that his route required him to exit or he had simply missed his exit not realizing it had come up on him so quickly.

Either way, hauling oversize, especially on I-70/I-76 in Pennsylvania requires a lot of patience. A lot of lower bridges, arched bridges, slanted bridges, etc.

I just can't believe he just drove away. Leaving the scene of an accident (injury or not) will be on his record.

[PAHighways]

This is not his first incident here, as he struck a bridge in Cumberland County in 2008.

Trucker Who Hit I-70 Span Had Similar Crash in '08 - Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

[exit322]

This incident is just to the east of where the Lakeview Drive overpass was hit and damaged in 2005, and subsequently demolished.

It'd do them some good to restructure a lot of those exits, too.  How many of the roads exited between NS & Washington even have enough traffic to really be useful?

At least 21 of the 28 between 79 and 76.

So that's still 7 that can be removed allowing for upgrades of the 21 useful ones.

It's Pennsylvania, would you just toll I-80 already so you can upgrade I-70?  Or some weird logic like that?

[Scott5114]

To toll I-80 to pay for I-70, you have to toll I-99 to pay for I-78 which has to be tolled to pay for I-90! Or something like that.

[PAHighways]

It's Pennsylvania, would you just toll I-80 already so you can upgrade I-70?  Or some weird logic like that?

Upgrading 70, beyond what has been done such as between Exit 39 and Exit 43, is as likely to happen as toll booths going up on 80.

[mightyace]

It's Pennsylvania, would you just toll I-80 already so you can upgrade I-70?  Or some weird logic like that?

The reason that the I-80 tolling went down in flames was that the state wanted I-80 tolls to pay for transportation needs outside of maintaining I-80 which is contrary to current federal law.

There are two choices to use tolls to pay for I-70 upgrades.
1) Add tolls to that section of I-70.
2) Divert existing turnpike tolls to the project.  (That is happening to a degree with money going from the PTC into PennDOT's general fund.)

[PAHighways]

Briefing tomorrow on the Interstate 70 Kammerer Exit Bridge Accident - District 12-0

[CanesFan27]

All of this wouldn't be a problem if PennDot's plans to build a 'new' I-70 didn't get financially starved.

http://www.gribblenation.com/swparoads/70/

[mightyace]

Maybe we should actually thank this trucker.

He's forcing PennDOT to replace bridges that need to be replaced. 

[agentsteel53]

Maybe we should actually thank this trucker.

He's forcing PennDOT to replace bridges that need to be replaced. 

can he accidentally plow into Breezewood with a cargo of aviation fuel?

[CanesFan27]

Mightyace,

Actually I believe that PennDot has a case to charge the trucker - or at least his insurance company - to replace the bridge. 

[mightyace]

Darn, I knew there had to be a catch somewhere! 

[PAHighways]

Maybe we should actually thank this trucker.

He's forcing PennDOT to replace bridges that need to be replaced.  

Yes, thankfully he is only crashing into inanimate objects so far.

Adam is correct, PennDOT is planning to give the bill to the trucking company and their insurance company.

[Mr_Northside]

http://www.postgazette.com/pg/10299/1098195-147.stm

Looks like they're hoping to have a new one opened by the end of June.

Fixed URL. -- rmf67

[CanesFan27]

A more detailed follow up in today's paper.

http://post-gazette.com/pg/10300/1098262-55.stm

The biggest takeaway from the article:

"The new bridge will have a 16-foot-6-inch vertical clearance, meeting current interstate highway standards, Ms. Duda said at a town meeting in Somerset Township. The old bridge had a 14-foot-9-inch clearance. The new span will be longer and wider and will accommodate future expansion of I-70 to six lanes"

Expansion of 70 to six lanes?  Hmmm, very interesting.

[PAHighways]

Unless there is confusion between the writer and District 12-0, and the longer bridge is intended for the type of upgrade 70 had in the Belle Vernon area.  If you added the additional width of the median and the wider shoulder, it probably could add up to the width of an additional lane in each direction.

[Mr_Northside]

Yeah... I read that this morning and assumed the widening was for median/shoulder, as I've heard they were currently doing that in a project (closer to 519 I think) elsewhere, but never heard anything about 6-laning.

[rickmastfan67]

And if they were widening I-70 to three lanes anywhere, I would do it between the two I-79 junctions myself.

[JREwing78]

PennDOT would be stupid to not make it sufficiently wide to handle 6 lanes (or even 8) on the Turnpike. Given how long the original bridge lasted, it wouldn't be outrageous to expect this one to last just as long, and it'll definitely need 6 lanes by then.