PennDot prepares for harsh driving conditions on bridges and advises commuters to utilize their online resources for a safer time on the road.
Pennsylvania is known to have some of the worst bridges and roads in the country. As winter weather approaches, PennDOT, the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation, is beginning to prepare for all types of weather conditions by maintaining and inspecting the roadways.
The winter months call for an extreme level of attention to the upkeep of roads and bridges. Pennsylvania has the third-largest number of bridges in the country, amounting to over 25,400 in total, according to PennDOT.
The lifespan of a bridge is usually around 50-75 years, but as more vehicles use the bridge daily and with the harsh winter conditions, some bridges need repair sooner.
PennDOT’s, website says that on average, most of the bridges in the state system are over 50 years old. With this in mind, Peter Kempf, a senior civil engineer manager at PennDOT, says the bridges have scheduled inspections that allow for issues to be prioritized and fixed.
“We have to have the inspections occur on a cycle based off of the rating of the bridge. If the bridge itself is newer and has a good rating, those inspections may be every three years. As the bridges age, those inspections become more frequent.”
These crucial structures that many people depend on daily are not in the best of conditions. According to PennDOT, Pennsylvania has the second most bridges in poor condition with over 2,500 bridges across the state needing repairs.
However, the department does not receive nearly enough money to renovate these bridges when needed, even if it’s a high-priority fix.
“On a state-wide level we have about an 8-billion dollar a year shortfall on the budget so we have to prioritize,” Kempf said. “A bridge would be a very high priority.”
Historically, Pennsylvania bridges have created problems and caused threats to the community. PennDOT’s community outreach strives to keep travelers safe through the 511PA travel information service. Important messages relating to traffic delays, weather conditions, and more are communicated to the public through this outlet.
Marla Fannin, a Community Relations Coordinator/Public Information Officer, says 511PA is a valuable source of information that travelers should rely on.
“What we try to hammer home to folks is to prepare before you head out. So if you have to go out, have you gone to the 511PA site to see what the current road and weather conditions are.”
Overall, residents seem to appreciate the notices sent out by 511PA, especially through social media platforms such as Twitter and Facebook.
“I have to go out because I have to work so I just drive maybe slower than, you know, normal and just am cautious,” said Angela Gates. “But I am happy now that they have the signs on 99, and even if there is an accident it lets you be aware that you can, you know, where it’s at, where it’s located, and that you can slow down and be looking for that.”
For those who do not have to travel during non-ideal conditions, PennDOT alerts are seen as helpful and cautionary.
“I would pay attention to an alert, just because I don’t like driving in the snow to begin with, said Britta Petrich, a resident of centre county for the past 7 years.
The winter months are some of the worst times of the year for driving. PennDOT officials recommend utilizing their online platforms to help people avoid driving or to advise drivers to use caution in bad weather conditions, especially on bridges.