YORK COUNTY, Pennsylvania — If your morning commute takes you on or near the Century Farms Road bridge in York County, be prepared for detours starting Monday.
PennDOT will begin a nearly four-month-long bridge replacement project—spanning the North Branch Muddy Creek between Trinity Road and Fulton School Road in Chanceford Township.
PennDOT shared the Century Farms Road bridge was built in 1954, and after a thorough inspection of the deck, the substructure and superstructure of the bridge, it has been rated in "poor condition."
As a result of this, the bridge is being replaced, and CriLon Corp. of Somerset has been contracted for this $1,285,495 project.
David Thompson, the community relations coordinator for PennDOT - District 8, shared that PennDOT inspects all of Pennsylvania's bridges at least once every two years.
"There comes a time where you know the cost of maintaining it. We're just not getting the value out of it. And we have to close the bridge and completely replace it," Thompson said.
The project will entail replacing the structure, reconstructing a small portion of the roadway and giving the area guiderail upgrades, as well as some drainage improvements.
The bridge will be closed, so those who typically travel through this route, will need to take a detour.
PennDOT shared this specific detour will use Laurel Road (Route 2075), Main Street (Route 2054), Red Lion Avenue (Route 2079), Felton Road (Route 2079), Route 24 (Winterstown Road) and Church Road (Route 2052).
“We understand that these detours are inconvenient to people," Thompson said. "You know, if we could avoid them, that would be great. But sometimes we have to do it and the object is to get in there and get the job done and get it back open so that people can go about their normal routines when they travel.”
Another thing to keep in mind: there is also construction going on for the Red Lion Avenue bridge in Felton, and the detours overlap.
"We have added signage so that when you're looking at the detour signs, you know which detour it's for," Thompson said.
This Century Farms Road project is expected to be completed by Oct. 10, 2024.