CRAWFORD COUNTY, Pa. – Nighttime closures and lane restrictions are scheduled to begin today on the two Interstate 79 bridges over the Conneaut Swamp in Greenwood Township, Crawford County.

Nightly closures of the northbound bridge are scheduled from 7 PM to 7 AM from Monday, June 5 through Thursday, June 8; and from Monday, June 12 through Thursday, June 16.

A detour will be posted beginning at Exit 141 and will use Route 285, Route 19, and Route 6/322 to return to Interstate 79 at Exit 147.

During the same period, traffic on the southbound Interstate 79 bridge will be restricted to one lane between Exit 147 and Exit 141.

The closure and restriction are required as part of an $11.3 million rehabilitation project that will improve travel on the twin bridges that carry Interstate 79 over the Conneaut Swamp in Greenwood Township, Crawford County.

Half-width construction is being used, so traffic on the northbound bridge has been restricted to one lane throughout the 2017 construction. There is also an 11-foot width restriction on northbound traffic.

The nighttime closures and lane restriction are required for work to pour the concrete bridge deck.

Construction during 2017 is focusing on the bridge that carries northbound traffic. Work started in late March and is scheduled to be completed by November 2017. Work on the southbound bridge is scheduled for 2018.

The contractor is Mekis Construction Corp. of Fenelton, PA. The contract cost is $11,356,889.90, which is to be paid entirely with federal funds.

The bridges were built in 1969. The northbound bridge is used by approximately 9,800 vehicles a day, on average. The southbound bridge is used by approximately 10,000 vehicles a day, on average.

PennDOT urges motorists to slow down when driving in work zones, and also to be alert to changing conditions, avoid distractions and to pay attention to signs and flaggers. Drive responsibly in work zones for your safety and the safety of the workers.

Motorists can check conditions on more than 40,000 roadway miles by visiting www.511PA.com. 511PA, which is free and available 24 hours a day, provides traffic delay warnings, weather forecasts, traffic speed information and access to more than 825 traffic cameras.

511PA is also available through a smartphone application for iPhone and Android devices, by calling 5-1-1, or by following regional Twitter alerts accessible on the 511PA website.