New Jonathan Hulton Bridge over the Allegheny River opens to restricted traffic

Updated Oct 24, 2015
Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf speaking at the opening of the new Jonathan Hulton Bridge.Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf speaking at the opening of the new Jonathan Hulton Bridge.

The new Jonathan Hulton Bridge, which spans the Alleghany River in Oakmont, Pennsylvania, opened to limited traffic this week after a ribbon-cutting ceremony with Gov. Tom Wolf in attendance.

The $65.7 million project began in September 2013 and is roughly 1,600 feet long, 69 feet wide and carries two 11-foot lanes of traffic in each direction. Six-foot shoulders were constructed to provide a pedestrian/bike path. Traffic will be limited until the old Hulton Bridge, built in 1908, is demolished sometime in early 2016.

“Today’s opening represents another step forward for the region’s mobility,” Wolf said. “Investing in our roads and bridges sets the stage for economic growth, and we are fortunate to have resources to deliver such improvements.”

“We worked hard to minimize disruption during this project and the new bridge meets the needs of motorists, pedestrians and bicyclists,” Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) District 11 Executive Dan Cessna said. “It is with great pride that our PennDOT team opens this bridge as a vital transportation link in our region.”

Brayman Construction has been the primary contractor and completed the “major elements” of the project, including the foundations, caissons (drilled shafts), coffer dams and river piers. Brayman said it used close to 10,000 cubic yards of concrete and more than 1 million pounds of rebar in the construction of these elements. Superstructure components required 12 million pounds of structural steel and the entire project required more than 200,000 union labor hours.

“All of the major elements plus a great partnering effort with the (Pennsylvania) Department of Transportation and (PennDOT District 11 Executive) Dan Cessna’s staff culminates in another great bridge that will serve the state of Pennsylvania well beyond our lifetimes,” Brayman Chairman & CEO Steve Muck said.