Glenn O. Hawbaker Completes New Bridge In Record Time

New Slabtown Bridge open to traffic

On Sept. 8, 2011, massive flooding from Tropical Storm Lee destroyed the Route 973 Slabtown Bridge over Loyalsock Creek four miles north of Montoursville.

Today, less than 14 months after that historic event, a new Slabtown Bridge is in place and opened to traffic.

Prime contractor Glenn O. Hawbaker, Inc. constructed the new, $3 million, three-span concrete bridge in less than eight months.

The new bridge sits on the same alignment as its predecessor, once again linking Eldred Township on the west side and Upper Fairfield Township on the east, just off Route 87. The new bridge is 345 feet long, with two 11’-wide travel lanes, 5’-wide shoulders and two piers in the creek.

During one of several photo opportunities this afternoon, the first public vehicle to cross the new bridge was the Eldred Township Ambulance, which was the last vehicle to cross the old bridge before it was flooded.

The detour, which had been in place since the flooding last year, is now lifted, as well.