East Market Street closure: How's it going, and when will it end?

A section of East Market Street near Interstate 83 has been closed for several weeks as crews are replacing a bridge with a new structure, forcing traffic to detour around the area.

It's been frustrating for drivers caught in backups, and irritating to residents whose neighborhoods have been used as unofficial detours.

But the project remains on schedule and is expected to be completed in a six-week time frame, according to the state Department of Transportation. The closure started on Sept. 27.

Crews had to deal with inclement weather from Hurricane Ian for a few days, but they did not lose any substantial working time, PennDOT says.

The contractor, Clearwater Construction Inc. of Mercer, Pennsylvania, has demolished the old bridge and has installed beam sections, which include prefabricated deck elements, PennDOT says. Pre-cast approach slabs currently are being put in place, and next week, an Ultra High Performance Concrete will be used to connect the approach slabs and modules.

After those slabs are installed, a large crane will be deconstructed so full reconstruction of the road can be done, PennDOT says.

The $6.4 million project involves replacing the bridge, signal upgrades, guide rail work and other construction. Route 462, Market Street, is expected to reopen in early November after the new span is put in, but the entire project will not be completed until the spring.

Traffic woes along Mount Rose Avenue, in neighborhoods

As a result of the road closure between Belmont Street and North Hills Road, traffic has been rerouted around the area.

PennDOT's official detour uses North Hills Road, Route 30, Sherman Street and Philadelphia Street.

However, drivers have been using other roads to get around the closure, and Mount Rose Avenue has seen a noticeable increase in traffic and congestion, PennDOT says. Its traffic unit worked with the contractor to improve the traffic signal timing along the corridor to handle the temporary surge.

Springettsbury Township Police have received complaints about drivers cutting through neighborhoods and not driving slow enough, Lt. Tony Beam said.

The department has placed speed boards in areas to warn drivers how fast they are traveling and has sent patrol cars into the neighborhoods, Beam said. But with a bunch of different neighborhoods being affected and a number of streets being used, it has been difficult.

Police anticipate that it's a temporary problem, and drivers will return to their normal routes when East Market Street reopens.

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Construction affecting local coffee shop

Belmont Bean Co., a coffee shop near the bridge work, has been affected by the construction and traffic detour.

"It's still noticeably slower for us businesswise," manager Elise Lanteigne-Marrow said.

But construction workers have been stopping by, and new customers have discovered the coffee shop because of the detour, she said.

The owner has been checking on the progress of the construction.

"They have said it is on track, and there are no delays so far," she said.

This article originally appeared on York Daily Record: East Market Street bridge closure: Work remains on schedule for reopening