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Project Overview

The Elm Street Bridge Replacement is one in a package of four bridge replacements that comprise the Scranton Local Bridge Project. PennDOT, with the support of the City of Scranton, will replace the Elm Street Bridge, which runs over the Lackawanna River in Lackawanna County. The existing structure is a 2-span prestressed (non-composite) adjacent box beam bridge with existing sidewalks built in 1958.

This bridge rehabilitation will alleviate any current weight restrictions and provide a structure that meets current design standards with a two-lane bridge with sidewalks.  This project will also include pavement resurfacing along Elm Street from South Washington Avenue to 3rd Avenue.


Project Update: 06-05-2020

Fieldwork for the Elm Street Bridge Replacement Project is anticipated to begin the week of Monday, June 8, 2020.  Susquehanna Civil Engineering, Inc. will be in the vicinity of the Elm Street Bridge to collect “Survey and Mapping” of the bridge, roadway, and river.  These activities will support Preliminary Design Activities for this bridge replacement.  The survey activities are anticipated to last 1 to 2 weeks.

Project Update: August 2020

As of August 2020, bridge surveying of the Elm Street, Parker Street and North Main Avenue Bridges is complete. The purpose of bridge surveying is to gather existing mapping, utility and drainage information to complete preliminary design for each bridge replacement.  

The next step for the Elm Street, Parker Street and North Main Avenue Bridges is to a develop line and grade, which establishes the route and elevation of the roadway.  The line and grade of roadways, along with the utilities constructed within them, will be evaluated to determine potential impacts and/or utility relocations for each bridge.

Project Update April 2021

The Elm Street Bridge Replacement project will host an online public meeting in June 2021 featuring Online Plans Display. PennDOT and the City of Scranton welcome public feedback via the public comment form prior to the meeting on the PennDOT District 4 website.

Project Update May 11, 2021

Invitation for Public Comment Elm Street Bridge Over Lackawanna River Project

The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) proposes the replacement of the existing structure that carries Elm Street over the Lackawanna River in the City of Scranton. The bridge will be
replaced on the same alignment to provide a safe and efficient crossing. The project also includes minor roadway approach reconstruction on Elm Street and Wyoming Avenue with mill and resurface operations limited to 3rd Avenue and South Washington Avenue.  A 1.1 mile vehicular detour is proposed during
construction. A temporary pedestrian bridge is proposed upstream of the existing Elm Street Bridge to accommodate pedestrian crossing of the Lackawanna River and pedestrian access to the Lackawanna River Heritage Trail. During construction parking at the Lackawanna River Heritage Trail‐Elm Street trailhead will be restricted to the southwest of the bridge. For this project, PennDOT will need to acquire approximately 324 square feet of right‐of‐way from the City of Scranton containing the Lackawanna River
Heritage Trail‐Elm Street trailhead. The Lackawanna River Heritage Trail/Elm Street trailhead qualifies as a Section 4(f) park and recreational resource pursuant to the U.S. Department of Transportation Act of
1966. More information on USDOT Section 4(f) can be found at
www.environment.fhwa.dot.gov/4f/4fpolicy.asp#ident

Questions and comments on the project can be directed to:
Gretchen Yarnall
Lotus Environmental Consulting, LLC
gyarnall@lotusenvironmental.com
(717) 712‐5961

Elm St Map 1.JPG

Project Contact

​PennDOT Project Manager

Summer Kuziel, EIT

570.-963-4048 | skoziel@pa.gov

Project Statistics

Detour Information