CRAWFORD COUNTY, Pa. – Work is scheduled to resume on a rehabilitation project that is giving motorists a smoother ride on the twin 3,600-foot-long bridges that carry Interstate 79 over the Conneaut Swamp in Greenwood Township, Crawford County.

Deck preservation work and lane restrictions on the bridges are expected to resume on Monday, March 26, 2018.

The construction zone is approximately 1.5 miles long and extends north and south of Exit 141 (Geneva/Cochranton, Route 285).

Work involves milling and hydro-demolition of the existing bridge deck surface, along with placing a concrete composite overlay extending over the approach slabs, paving, and repairing deck joints.

The project started in 2017 on the northbound bridge and will shift to the southbound bridge for the 2018 construction season. Work is scheduled to be completed by November 2018.

Half-width construction will be used, so traffic on the southbound bridge will be restricted to one lane throughout the 2018 construction. There will also be an 11-foot width restriction on southbound traffic.

Nighttime closures will be required at times during construction when concrete is poured for the bridge deck. Detour times and routes will be announced in advance.

Additionally, minor work remains to be completed on the northbound bridge this spring, and traffic will be restricted to one lane on the northbound bridge while this work is being done.

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 850 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.