As Schuylkill County waits on the bids to repair the bridge in Mar Lin, two more bridge repair projects are being designed.
The county is currently accepting bids for bridge No. 200 on Maple Avenue over the west branch of the Schuylkill River in Norwegian Township. The bridge provides a roadway from Route 209 to the Schuylkill Intermediate Unit 29, the Schuylkill Technology Center South Campus and Tredegar Plastic Fabrication Co.
Built in 1959, the 65-foot-long bridge has a daily average traffic of 1,000 vehicles and a 25-ton limit. The project was put out for bid last week. Bids are due by 3 p.m. March 14 and will be opened March 16. A tentative award date was set for March 23.
Lisa Mahall, county engineer, said Wednesday that construction will start in the spring and must be completed by Aug. 19. During construction, Mahall said Westwood Road will serve as a detour.
Meanwhile, the county has entered into a professional services agreement with two engineering firms to design the repairs of two more bridges.
Alfred Benesch & Co., Pottsville, will design repairs for bridge No. 73, which carries Mahantongo Road over Deep Creek, Hubley Township. Engineering design costs $32,000 and construction coordination costs $13,200 for a total cost of $45,200.
Built in 1920, the stone arch bridge is 58 feet long and has a daily average traffic of 100 vehicles. Mahall said that the design work should take less than a year for the bridge.
Larson Design Group, Williamsport, will design repairs to bridge No. 28 on Mill Mountain Road over the Little Schuylkill River, East Brunswick Township. Engineering design costs $110,000 and construction coordination costs $34,900 for a total cost of $144,900.
Built in 1956, the bridge is 159 feet long and has a daily average traffic of 200. It also has a weight limit of 32 tons. Mahall said it should take about two years to design repairs for this bridge.
The county’s liquid fuels fund is being used to pay for the bridge projects. Money for that fund is provided by state tax collected at the gas pump. Allocations are based on population and miles of road. Schuylkill County receives about $590,000 annually, Mahall said.