PennDOT posts signs about weight limit on the Veterans Memorial Bridge

 

PennDOT workers posted several signs at the entrance to the Route 462 Veterans Memorial Bridge today to remind drivers of the 10-ton weight limit currently in effect. PennDOT imposed the limit on Monday, July 17, after discovering deterioration at various parts of the bridge. The PennDOT press release about the issue is posted below.


PennDOT press release on Route 462 Veterans Memorial Bridge weight limit

Weight Limit Posted on Route 462 Veterans Memorial (Columbia-Wrightsville) Bridge in Lancaster County

07/17/2023

​Harrisburg, PA – The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) announced today a weight limit has been established on the Route 462 Veterans Memorial (Columbia-Wrightsville) Bridge over the Susquehanna River connecting the Borough of Wrightsville, York County and the Borough of Columbia, Lancaster County.

The bridge has not previously had a weight restriction. The new restriction will limit the weight of each vehicle to 10 tons except for emergency vehicles permitted by the Department. Vehicles exceeding the posted weight limit are suggested to use Route 30, an approximate 8.7-mile detour, or other alternate route. In addition to regulatory signs specific to this 10-ton weight restriction, the Department will enact a truck detour for Route 462 to assist in routing trucks safely across the river.

Trucks traveling eastbound from the Wrightsville (west) side of the river should take eastbound Route 30 to the Prospect Road exit, then turn right and head south to Route 462.

Trucks traveling westbound from the Columbia (east) side of the river should take westbound Route 30 to the Route 462/Wrightsville exit, then turn left and head south to Route 462.

The weight restriction was implemented after a routine inspection uncovered deterioration to the primary load carrying members of the open spandrel concrete arch spans along portions of the bridge. The Department is working towards interim repairs to the bridge and will re-evaluate the posting while repairs are being made.

Creating the weight restriction will reduce strain on the bridge and will preserve safe passage until more significant interim repairs can occur. Given the necessity to change the design scope of work on the bridge, now potentially including bridge deck, floor beam and column replacement, work on the bridge for the permanent condition is now not anticipated to occur until 2025.

The historic Route 462 bridge was built in 1930 and is classified as being in fair condition. Approximately 11,548 vehicles use the bridge daily, with 5%, or 601 trucks anticipated to be affected by this posting. The remaining 95% of traffic is anticipated to be below this limit and can continue to use the structure without restriction.

Motorists can check conditions on major roadways 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 1,000 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.

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CONTACT: Dave Thompson 717-418-5018, dmthompson@pa.gov