The WKOK Road Report
10 minutes before the hour, each weekday, during your morning commute, on Newsradio 1070 WKOK


Central Susquehanna Valley Roadwork

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

HUGHESVILLE -- A PennDOT contractor will begin road work on Routes 118 and 405 in Hughesville July 7. Work includes paving, placing concrete pipe and pavement base drain to improve drainage, traffic signal upgrades at the intersection with Main Street (Route 405), construction of concrete curb and sidewalks, and placement of pavement markings and signs.

EXCHANGE -- PennDOT in Montour County is scheduled to begin a bridge replacement project along Route 44 in Anthony Township starting in early July.
The bridge carries Route 44 over McKee Run, about a mile west of Exchange.
A detour is tentatively set to start on Monday, July 6. Work there will be finished in August.

NORTHUMBERLAND COUNTY -- PennDOT has a bridge preservation contract underway involving the repainting of 10 state-owned bridges at various locations in Northumberland County. There will be no restrictions to traffic.

The first structure is on Schwaben Creek Road in Jackson Township just north of Red Cross. The second structure will be Lower Road in Little Mahanoy Township over Zerbe Run. The third structure will be on Route 890 in Rockefeller Township over Shamokin Creek. The others will be done as they get to them.

The remaining bridges are on Route 54 north of Delaware Run in Delaware Township, Route 901 south of Ranshaw in Coal Township, Brennan’s Farm Road in Mount Carmel Township, Route 45 east of Route 147 in East Chillisquaque Township, Market Street over Shamokin Creek in Snydertown Borough, Upper Road south of Trevorton in Zerbe Township and Logan Run Road in Rush Township.

NORTHUMBERLAND -- A PennDOT contractor is still working Route 11 in Northumberland. The detour is lifted, but work continues in that area, with resurfacing on the Barry King Bridge and work at the underpass continuing. Expect delays.

There will be an as yet unscheduled one-weekend truck detour so the intersection of Duke Street and Route 11 can be completed with accelerated concrete. Trucks won't be allowed through this area because of the restricted turning area. The entire project is scheduled to be completed by July 31.

WHITE DEER -- A bridge project is underway on the twin bridges carrying Route 15 over White Deer Creek and White Deer Pike in White Deer Township, Union County. Motorists encounter a cross over and single lane traffic in each direction.

The project will then shut down for the winter, and next year they will perform the same work on the northbound structure.  The work this year will end by Thanksgiving. The total project completion date is August 6, 2010.

DORNSIFE -- PennDOT is making drainage improvements (cross pipe replacements) along Dornsife Mountain Road and a daylight detour is posted.  This project will last into mid-July.

WATSONTOWN -- PennDOT is tentatively scheduled to begin a bridge replacement project on Hockley Hill Road in Lewis Township June 29. A detour, using Route 54 and Warrior Run Boulevard, will be in effect. Work will be complete in August.

SELINSGROVE -- A contractor has started a resurfacing project along sections of Routes 35 and 522 in Snyder County. The work will cover over nine miles of highway total, including a section of Route 35 from Selinsgrove to Freeburg and a stretch of Route 522 from Selinsgrove to Kreamer. There will be a 12’ vehicle-width restriction through the work zone on Route 35 from June 15 through mid-August. The rest of the work will be finished in October.

ORIENTAL -- A PennDOT contractor has closed Oriental Road and implemented a detour for a bridge replacement project. The new bridge is scheduled to be open to traffic by mid-October

SNYDER COUNTY - PennDOT is now doing bridge work on Middle Creek Road in Spring Township. Middle Creek Road is detoured just south of its intersection with Back Mountain Road. This detour is scheduled to be in place through June 26.

NORTHUMBERLAND COUNTY – PennDOT has started the rehabilitation of two state bridges:

+ The first bridge to be replaced is on Short Road over Shamokin Creek in Shamokin Township. The detour is now underway.

+ Following the first bridge replacement, the contractor will move to the second bridge, on Black Mill Road over Shamokin Creek, in Upper Augusta Township.

COLUMBIA COUNTY – An update on the bridge replacement project on Route 254 in Greenwood Township, Columbia County. Motorists are now using a temporary roadway--with temporary traffic signals. This project is scheduled to be completed by July 31.

PAXINOS -- PennDOT is rehabbing a bridge in Paxinos on Route 487. There are lane restrictions and slight delays. 

NORTHUMBERLAND COUNTY – Crews have stared work on seven bridge decks, five of them on Route 147 between I-80 and the south end of Sunbury, one on Route 11 in Northumberland Borough over the West Branch Susquehanna River, and one on Route 61 in the city of Sunbury. Flaggers will control traffic. This bridge work will be done by the end of July.

MILLVILLE -- Crews has started a bridge project on Route 254, west of Millville in Columbia County. Work is on the Route 254 Bridge over Spruce Run, just southwest of the intersection with Spruce Run Road in Madison Township. A detour is implemented using Eyers Grove Road and Creek Road. Work is scheduled to be completed by July 6.

BLOOMSBURG -- Crews will be setting concrete beams for the first phase of the new bridge on Millville Road at the intersection with Route 42 near Buckhorn in Columbia County. During this work, Millville Road traffic will be reduced to a single lane, with traffic flow controlled by flag people.

SELINSGROVE -- Crews are working on the overpass bridge which carries Routes 11&15 southbound onto the Selinsgrove Bypass in Snyder County. There is a new traffic pattern on the bridge and the off-ramp beneath the bridge are closed. This will continue until mid-July.

LAURELTON -- The Route 235 bridge over Laurel Run in Hartley Township, Union County, is closed for safety reasons. A short detour is posted using Fairground Road and Route 45. The detour adds about two miles and about 5-minutes to travels. The bridge is scheduled for replacement in 2013, but PennDOT is reassessing that timeframe.

CATAWISSA -- Road work is underway on Route 487 between Catawissa and the Bloomsburg River Bridge and Route 42 from Catawissa to Numidia. There will daytime flagging and delays for motorists. Work will be done mid-July.

STILLWATER -- PennDOT is working on a bridge along Route 487 at Stillwater in Columbia County. One lane is closed and a temporary traffic signal is in use. Work will be done in mid-July

BRIAR CREEK -- A bridge replacement project on Route 11 over Briar Creek, just south of Berwick is underway.  Two-way traffic will be maintained throughout the project. The project is expected to be completed by mid-September.

BUCKHORN -- A major road project is underway on eastbound Interstate 80 between Buckhorn (exit 236) and Lime Ridge (exit 241). The work will include lane closures, the installation of concrete barriers and ramp changes. Watch for changing traffic patterns and slow, or stopped traffic.  Some of this work will be complete mid-summer. There are long delays during most daytime hours and longer delays on Friday.

As part of this project, a section of Creek Road in Hemlock Township will be closed. A 20-minute signed detour is posted. Creek Road will be closed during the summer and fall construction season. 
 

 Workzone Safety Rules and Advice
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.

 PennDOT Winter Driving Advice

 

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.