HOLLIDAYSBURG — A Blair County bridge in Logan Township is slated to be replaced this summer, after installation of a temporary road so vehicles can continue to cross over Mill Run.

Blair County commissioners Dave Kessling, Amy Webster and Laura Burke voted Thursday to award an $819,259 contract to CH&D Enterprises, New Stanton, for replacement of Bridge 33 on T-456, also known as Old Mill Run Road.

PennDOT, which has been managing the replacement project and covering 95% of the cost, anticipates the contractor will start the job in May and wrap up in November.

Plans call for demolishing the small bridge, located near Cashman Road, and replacing it with a prestressed box beam bridge, PennDOT District 9 spokesman Jay Knarr said Thursday.

During construction, nearby residents are expected to maintain access to their homes via a temporary road to be created beside the current bridge, on the Cashman Road side. The temporary road, according to information that Knarr provided, will be built on top of two 72-inch pipes that will be placed side-by-side to maintain Mill Run’s stream flow.

When Blair County leaders began working with PennDOT on plans for replacing Bridge 33, early reports indicated that one side of the bridge would remain open during construction. But in January 2024, further evaluation of the bridge’s condition led to a conclusion that the entire bridge needed to be replaced. The project subsequently moved into the design phase with Blair County relying on Marcellus Shale Legacy Fund revenue to cover its 5% share of the expenses.

CH&D Enterprises’ $819,259 bid for the construction contract was the lowest of five submitted in response to an advertisement. Other bids ranged from $839,484 to $972,972.

Mirror Staff Writer Kay

Stephens is at 814-946-7456.