NPHQ > Awards & Success Stories > 2008 Winner

PennDOT Bridge To The Future Earns National Recognition

Community-Assisted Cameron Bridge Re-Design Honored 

The $13 million project included reconstruction of the Cameron Bridge at PA Route 61 and a connector road (PA Route 225 in Northumberland County) to improve safety and traffic conditions.  Intersection and signal timing improvements along Route 61 at four intersections in the City of Shamokin are also included in the project.  The Cameron Bridge is a vital link between Shamokin and Coal Township and locations to the north, and the improvements are considered key to the future growth and economic development of the region.

Because public involvement would be instrumental to the success of this project, PennDOT established an extensive program to engage citizens in developing design solutions to the challenges at the Cameron Bridge.  PennDOT established a 23-member steering committee comprised of local officials, business owners and residents.  Over the course of 18 months, the committee worked with PennDOT to develop thirteen improvement alternatives and to select the preferred alternative that met project goals.  When the alternative was chosen, PennDOT solicited input from the committee on project details that resulted in bridge design that enhances both communities.

PennDOT also held two public open house meetings to obtain input to the alternatives.  PennDOT invited residents to sketch and submit ideas on maps for committee consideration.  Open houses included displays of transportation and environmental information, opinion surveys and computerized traffic simulations.  A special project video, "A Bridge for the Future," was produced to explain the project to the public.  Outreach to local newspapers and other media was also an important part of the public involvement program.

Project partners included the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) District 3; the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA); designer DMJM Harris, Inc. and general contractor Susquehanna Supply Company, Inc.