The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation has announced that construction on the PA 183/Schuylkill Avenue Bridge in the City of Reading is set to begin on Monday, March 3. The project will involve replacing the existing concrete-encased steel I-beam bridge with a new concrete box beam bridge.
The current bridge, which was built in 1916, measures 78 feet long and 53 feet wide. The new structure will be slightly shorter and narrower, at 60 feet long and 50 feet wide. This section of PA 183 handles an average of 6,878 vehicles daily.
During the construction, PA 183 will be closed and detoured between Green and Buttonwood streets. PennDOT has established the following detours:
Truck Detours: The primary route for trucks will use US 222, US 422, and Penn Street. A secondary route will direct trucks along Schuylkill Avenue Southbound, West Greenwich Street, North 4th Street, and Washington Street.
Pedestrian Detour: Pedestrians will be directed to use Buttonwood Street, North Front Street, and Green Street.
Car Detour: Motorists will be detoured via Buttonwood Street, North Front Street, and Greenwich Street. To accommodate this, North Front Street between Greenwich and Buttonwood streets will temporarily switch from one-way northbound traffic to two-way traffic. Parking will also be adjusted accordingly.
Kinsley Construction, LLC, based in York, PA, has been contracted for the project at a cost of $8,473,315. The bridge replacement is expected to be completed by fall 2026.
