Replacement of the Kershner Creek (SR309) bridge in West Penn Township is expected to start tomorrow and last just over one year.

The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) announced that the work is being done to replace the structurally deficient bridge.Crews will replace the existing concrete T-beam bridge with a new concrete bulb T-beam bridge. The bridge, 41 feet long and 48 feet wide, was originally constructed in 1930 and reconstructed in 1951. The new bridge will be 72 feet long and 55 feet wide.According the PennDOT website, SR309 has an average daily traffic volume of 7,065 vehicles.PennDOT added that starting tomorrow and lasting throughout construction, there will be new traffic patterns implemented at the bridge, which runs under SR309 and into the West Penn Community Park. While traffic will be maintained in both directions, travel lanes on SR309 will be shifted and reduced to one 11-foot travel lane in each direction.PennDOT also stressed that motorists should always use caution when driving through the work zone.Also during construction, access from Zion Stone Church Road to SR309 will be restricted and will utilize Cemetery Road as a detour to access 309.All schedules and construction are weather dependent.The project is being done by J.D. Eckman Inc. Contractors of Atglen for $1,874,525 and is expected to be complete in September 2013.