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ELK COUNTY, Pa. (EYT) – State inspectors are working today to determine the cause of the collapse of a bridge on Route 219 in Ridgway that injured three construction workers.
(Photo courtesy Elk County OES/Greg Reedy)
According to Elk County Office of Emergency Services, the incident occurred around 2:30 p.m.
Multiple construction workers and a large excavator were on the bridge at the time of the collapse, sources say.
One of the injured workers was transported from the scene by medical helicopter, while the other two were taken by ambulance to area hospitals, according to sources.
A company employee of the contractor, Francis J. Palo Inc. of Clarion, was one of the wounded workers.
No other information was available on the extent of the injuries.
PennDOT stated the bridge, which was built in 1912, was on Pennsylvania’s structurally deficient list. It was in the process of being repaired after being damaged by flooding.
The bridge project began in March and included plans to replace the bridge’s superstructure, according to sources.
Emergency responders from Ridgway, St. Marys, Wilcox, and Johnsonburg were called to the scene.
PennDOT will be issuing a statement regarding their inspection report as soon as it is available.
PennDOT Issued the following Travel Alert:
The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation advises drivers that the Pennsy Bridge on Route 219 in Ridgway, Elk County is closed until further notice.
The bridge has been closed due to a construction-related incident.
Northbound traffic was previously following a detour around the Pennsy construction project and will continue to do so.
The bridge closure now requires southbound traffic to use the following detour:
Route 255 south in Johnsonburg to Route 120 west and back to Route 219 south.
Motorists can check conditions on more than 40,000 roadway miles by visiting www.511PA.com. 511PA, which is free and available 24 hours a day, provides traffic delay warnings, weather forecasts, traffic speed information and access to more than 770 traffic cameras.
511PA is also available through a smartphone application for iPhone and Android devices, by calling 5-1-1, or by following regional Twitter alerts accessible on the 511PA website.
Follow PennDOT on Twitter at www.twitter.com/511PAStateCOLL.
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