Stimulus Funds Bridge Project in Beaver

The state has launched its first Federal Stimulus funded road project in Southwestern Pennsylvania. PennDOT began work on the Route 51 Beaver-Rochester Bridge. Governor Ed Rendell says, "This project simply would not have happened if stimulus funds were not available.” The bridge project will use $10 million of the $1 billion in federal transportation stimulus funds. The state says bridge over the Beaver River between Beaver and Rochester carries between 10,000 and 15,000 vehicles a day. The repair project includes painting, expansion dam and rocker bearing replacements, steel and concrete repairs and other rehabilitation efforts. The project is to be completed in late 2010. Eventually a total of seven projects in District 11 will be funded by stimulus funds.