Central Susquehanna Valley Roadwork

Click here for PennDOT's local Travelers Advisories and News Releases

MONTOURSVILLE -- PennDOT has implemented a new travelers advisory service. It is called 511 and motorists can log on to 511pa.com or call 511 from any phone to check traffic conditions before heading out. Voice prompts will help you localize the information and find out about potential traffic delays.

RALPHO TOWNSHIP -- Two sections of the Snydertown Road and Bottle Drive project will have daylight detours weekdays from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. starting March 18 until June 1.

KANTZ -- PennDOT has started work on a bridge rehabilitation project on Route 35. The bridge deck will be replaced on the span over a tributary to Middle Creek, just west of Kantz in Washington Township, Snyder County. There will be lane restrictions, flaggers and temporary signals will control traffic. Slight delays may be anticipated. This work will be done in August.

BLOOMSBURG -- In Columbia County, work starts this spring on bridges on Route 42 over Roaring Creek and Mill Road over a tributary to Roaring Creek, both in Locust Township. This projects will be complete this fall.

GLEN IRON -- The rehabilitation of the Red Covered Bridge over Penns Creek in Hartley Township, Union County gets under way this year. The year long project will result in the reopening of the long-closed bridge. The project will be complete in Jan of 2011.

KRATZERVILLE -- PennDOT will be replacing two bridges on Kratzerville Road. Work is underway on the bridge over Penns Creek. At the same time, work will be underway on a second bridge--a stone arch culvert--over a tributary to Penns Creek.

A detour for the Penns Creek bridge replacement will begin starting on or about April 5. The detour for the smaller bridge will begin in mid-June. The detour (for both replacements) will follow Route 204, Mill Road, Airport Road and Park Road. Work will be complete in in October.

RED CROSS -- Work is underway on  a bridge replacement on Route 225, about a half-mile north of Red Cross in Northumberland County. The bridge over Schwaben Creek in Jackson Township will include tree removal and utility relocations. The contractor will restrict traffic to a single lane in the work zone weekdays from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m., with the use of flaggers. This initial work will take about three weeks, after which the work will be temporarily halted at the site due to a stream restriction.

The contractor will then return in June to replace the existing bridge. The project will include reconstructed roadway approaches and new guide rail. On or about June 7, a detour will go into effect, using Route 147 and Schuyler Road. The detour will be in effect for approximately four months. All work under this $996,343 contract is scheduled for completion by October.

SNYDERTOWN -- In Snydertown, repaving has started on eight miles of Sunbury Street and Snydertown Road from Snydertown to Paxinos. Flaggers are already restricting traffic. Construction is scheduled for completion by late August.
 

Here is some PennDOT workzone safety advice:

- Penn DOT strongly urges motorists to pay full attention to their driving when approaching and passing through any highway work zone.  Obey the posted speed limit.  Refrain from tailgating.  Be alert to the possibility of slow-moving or stopped traffic ahead.  Bring along some relaxing music to listen to.  Plan extra time for your travels.  Always buckle up.

- All motorists are required to travel with their headlights turned on in all posted work zones, not just active workzones. It is necessary for drivers in vehicles with daytime running lights to turn on their headlights in order to activate their taillights. The penalty for driving without lit headlights in a posted work zone is $25.

-- Some Interstate work zones will have a speed-monitoring device to alert motorists of their speed prior to entering the work zone.

-- Active work zones are designated as such to notify motorists when they enter and leave the work zone. A white flashing light attached to the "Active Work Zone When Flashing" sign will indicate an active work zone. The flashing light will only be activated when workers are present and turned off when workers are not present.

-- Motorists caught driving 11 miles per hour or more above the posted speed limit in an active work zone, or who are involved in a crash in an active work zone and are convicted for failing to drive at a safe speed, automatically will lose their license for 15 days.

-- Fines for certain traffic violations – including speeding, driving under the influence, and failure to obey traffic devices – are doubled for active work zones. Also, the law provides for up to five years of additional jail time for individuals convicted of homicide by vehicle for a crash that occurred in an active work zone.

-- Don't let your friends drive drunk and DO appoint a designated driver. Remember--party hosts are often held liable for drunk driving accidents which follow parties.

During the winter months, PennDOT advises motorists to be alert to the possibility of snow squalls. Motorists need to be alert for squalls since they can quickly cause roads to become snow-covered and slick. In addition, heavy squalls can also cause whiteout conditions, virtually eliminating a driver’s visibility.

If motorists encounter snow squalls while traveling, PennDOT offers these suggestions:
-- Slow down gradually and drive at a speed that suits the conditions. 
-- Turn on your headlights. 
-- Stay in your lane. 
-- Increase your following distance.
-- Stay alert, keep looking as far ahead as possible and be patient.
-- Reduce in-car distractions since your full attention is required. 
-- Use defroster and wipers. 
-- Keep windows and mirrors free of snow and ice.
-- During whiteouts, come to a complete stop only when you can safely get as far off the road as possible or when there is a safe area to do so.
-- Do not stop in the flow of traffic since this could create a chain-reaction collision. 
-- Do not pass a vehicle moving slowly or speed up to get away from a vehicle that is following too closely.
-- Always buckle up and never drink and drive.

PennDOT reminds motorists of a new law requiring drivers the removal of all snow and ice from vehicles. There are severe fines if snow or ice that falls from their vehicle causes serious injury or death to other motorists or pedestrians.

The law states, "When snow or ice is dislodged or falls from a moving vehicle and strikes another vehicle or pedestrian causing death or serious bodily injury, the operator of the vehicle from which the snow or ice came is subject to a fine of $200 to $1,000 for each offense."

When driving during inclement weather, drivers should increase space between their vehicle and the vehicles ahead to allow for increased stopping distances, particularly on snow or ice covered roads.

Drivers are reminded to allow plenty of space around an operating snowplow and never attempt to get between several snowplows plowing side-by-side in a “plow train.” Plow trains are used on interstates and other limited access roads to clear as much of the road as possible in one pass.

Now is the time to prepare vehicles for winter weather to help avoid breakdowns. Motorists should have a mechanic check their vehicles’ battery, belts and hoses, heater and defroster, tires and anti-freeze level. Additionally, motorists should regularly check their wipers, lights, fluid levels and tire air pressure.

Among the items motorists should consider keeping in their vehicles if they expect to be far from home in extreme conditions are non-perishable food, a cellular telephone, water, a heavy blanket, a shovel, a warm hat, gloves, boots, a tow rope or chain, jumper cables, a bag of sand, portable cell phone charger and a brightly colored flag or other piece of material.

If motorists become stranded, they should stay in their vehicles and only run their engines and heaters every half hour, or so. Make sure tailpipes are clear and keep downwind windows open for fresh air. They should also tie a brightly colored flag onto the highest point of your vehicle to help rescuers locate them. PennDOT also recommends that travelers carry a cellular phone for safety.