PennDOT drawing up plan for White Cloud Road Bridge, may repair or replace

Fresh off the completion of Route 356 construction, Allegheny Township residents are looking at yet another big PennDOT project.

A bridge on White Cloud Road tentatively will be rehabilitated or replaced starting in early 2027, according to PennDOT project manager Sean Sepe. Work will take about 2½ years at a cost of $3 million to $5 million.

The scope depends on the design team’s recommendation, but Sepe noted “it will soon be uneconomical to maintain and repair the bridge.”

Built in 1953, the bridge is rated “poor” by state inspectors.

Its two lanes carry mostly local traffic on White Cloud Road, but it spans Route 56, a major artery just south of the Bonfire Driving Range. Route 56 will be affected for “short-term operations” during the project, Sepe said.

Detour routes are being explored as part of preliminary engineering.

Allegheny Township was informed of PennDOT’s plans in January, according to interim Township Manager Jason Dailey. Township officials and emergency responders met with various divisions of PennDOT to gather information and discuss potential problems, such as turnarounds for emergency vehicles.

“I’m sure there will be additional information-gathering sessions,” Dailey said. “This was all pretty preliminary.”

Dailey said the bridge had a heavier traffic burden as a detour during work on Route 356, which ended in October.

With the White Cloud Road project still several years off, Dailey said it’s nice to get a break from major roadwork.

“Fortunately, we’re going to get a few years (of) reprieve,” he said.