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Muncy borough and parts of eastern Lycoming County and upper-Northumberland County are about to experience the impact of car and truck detours as a multi-month-long $2.7 million bridge replacement over Glade Run on Route 405 or Water Street and intersection upgrades are expected to begin this week.
“It’s our hope that people won’t let this detour keep them from visiting the local businesses, which still very much need the business,” said Melissa Wertman Doyle, president of the Muncy Professional and Business Association, in a text to the Sun-Gazette on Monday.
She noted how she recently spoke with those near the project site at Dollar General, which is near the bridge work site, who told her they would use this time of bridge replacement to do some building renovations.
Several of the businesses are just now starting to bounce back from the effects of the pandemic.
Meanwhile, the bridge replacement over Glade Run, a small stream that cuts through the heart of the historic community in eastern Lycoming County, will result in numerous detours for those using private vehicle and commercial-truck traffic detours.
Charley Hall, Muncy Borough manager, told the Sun-Gazette for local residents who are familiar with how to get around one side of the bridge, the
reconstruction should not be much of a problem.
There are ways, for example, using Carpenter Street, to cross Glade Run and emergency services personnel also are familiar with indirect ways to access UPMC Muncy Valley and Interstate 180.
“My bigger concern is the truck drivers who are unfamiliar and do not use the truck detour, especially those who use Route 405 south because they will have trouble making turns,” Hall said.
“I do foresee impact with more truck traffic possible on Main Street,” Hall said.
Again, truck drivers who are not familiar will have difficulty making a left or right if they do not follow the posted truck detour, he said.
The new bridge will have a design that mimics the style of the existing bridge but will have new sidewalks and a larger opening to improve stream flow because it has flooded in this area of the borough during high water events.
Susquehanna Valley Construction, the general contractor, reportedly began Monday to remove the existing bridge that carries Water Street over Glade Run, even as the region was on the verge of getting another coating of spring snow.
Detours and concerns
Motorists were advised by the state Department of Transportation District 3 (PennDOT) that the construction begins on Route 405, which is Water Street, a heavily traveled thoroughfare.
Besides bridge replacement (which may be done by mid-August) intersection improvement, new drainage and inlets, upgrades accessible ramps, realignment of the intersection, new traffic signals, and paving from the river bridge to the Glade Run bridge are listed as components of the project which has an end date, weather permitting, of June 2023, said Maggie Baker, PennDOT District 3 community relations coordinator and agency spokeswoman.
Motorists should be aware of “a long-term detour” on Water Street between Main Street and Williams Street, she wrote in the news release.
The roadway will remain closed until the new bridge is opened creating the need for detour routes.
Some of the detours are up several miles from the borough. These are especially important for 18-wheelers and other large commercial vehicles, as they circumvent the borough and work site, impacting areas in upper Northumberland County to the south and the interstate traffic to the north of the borough.
Detours
Route 405 southbound car traffic to follow Williams Street, Green Street, Chestnut Street, East Mechanic Streets and Main Street.
Route 405 northbound car traffic will follow Main Street, Penn Street and Routes 442 and 405.
Meanwhile, the borough frequently is a thoroughfare for truck traffic, including those 18-wheelers transporting goods and items.
All truck traffic from Interstate 180 to Montgomery will exit Interstate 180 at exit 5 at Turbotville/Route 54 and will follow Route 54 to Route 405 into Montgomery.
Truck traffic from Interstate 180 to the Industrial Park in Muncy Township will exit the interstate at exit 17 or Lycoming Mall Road and will follow Lycoming Mall Road and Lycoming Mall Drive.
With this many detours in effect, PennDOT requested motorists to remain alert, slow down, expect delays, follow the detours and drive with caution – being considerate of the site workers, pedestrians and delivery personnel.
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