PHILADELPHIA, PA — STV joined the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission (PA Turnpike) to mark the opening of the new Hawk Falls Bridge along the Pennsylvania Turnpike’s Northeast Extension (I-476) in Carbon County. The bridge is now open to northbound and southbound traffic, a major milestone in the $88 million Hawk Falls Bridge Replacement project, where STV is providing construction management and inspection services.
The project includes the full replacement of the Hawk Falls Bridge and the nearby Hickory Run Road Bridge, modernizing two crossings originally built in the 1950s. Traffic was recently shifted onto the new Hawk Falls Bridge and the adjacent replacement bridge over Hickory Run Road, allowing the team to advance demolition of the old Hawk Falls Bridge and complete final roadway tie-ins in one of the most access-constrained and environmentally sensitive locations on the Pennsylvania Turnpike system.
STV is overseeing demolition and construction activities for the original structure spanning Mud Run through Hickory Run State Park, coordinating safety planning with contractors, emergency management teams, park officials, and turnpike maintenance crews to minimize impacts to motorists and park visitors.
“Replacing a bridge of this scale in such a sensitive setting requires precision, coordination, and trust across every partner involved,” said Jim Takacs, Project Manager at STV. “Reaching this milestone means the team is moving through the most complex phase of construction while improving safety and protecting the surrounding natural landscape.”
Rising nearly 200 feet above Mud Run Gorge, the new 720-foot-long, three-rib steel deck arch bridge features wider shoulders and a wider median to improve safety. The use of weathering steel and the elimination of expansion joints will reduce long-term maintenance needs. The bridge’s visibility from the Hawk Falls hiking trail and its span over a deep ravine required careful coordination to protect public safety, minimize disruption to park visitors, and maintain environmental stewardship.
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All work associated with the Hawk Falls Bridge Replacement Project is expected to be completed this fall.
