Though completion of the project to replace the bridge on Main Street in Pennsburg remains approximately one month away, the structure will be available for the Upper Perk Halloween Parade, scheduled for later this month. The roadway is being paved to accommodate the parade vehicle traffic, according to Robyn Briggs, a community relations coordinator with the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation.

            Anticipated completion of the work on Route 29, near the Red Hill borough line, is scheduled for Wednesday, Nov. 15. Vehicle traffic should have access by Nov. 2, according to an email message received Tuesday from Briggs.

            PennDOT and the contractor, H & K, are working diligently to make sure the road is ready for the parade, scheduled for 6 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 29. According to Briggs, they have been in constant communication with the parade organizers from Love Upper Perk to make sure their needs are met.

            The roadway is being paved to accommodate the parade vehicle traffic, according to the message. It states that the sidewalks will be completed to accommodate safe passage for the pedestrians along the parade route on Main Street.

            The contractor will be on-site to remove road closed signs temporarily to allow parade traffic through, according to information provided by the spokesperson. It states that they will be returning the signs once the parade is completed.

            The base and binder have already been placed on the new roadway, according to Briggs. Crews began paving this week.

            PennDOT is spending $3.2 million, consisting of 100 percent state funds, to replace the 94-year-old, 25-foot-wide, steel girder bridge. Construction kicked off in March after crews closed Main Street in Pennsburg between 8th and 11th streets.

            The contract called for the removal of the superstructure and its upper portion of the bridge over the former Perkiomen Railroad. The work removed the through girder beams at the edge of the travel lanes intended to improve safety along the corridor.

            Safety features include the construction of sidewalks along both sides of the roadway to improve pedestrian access, a realignment of the vertical profile to improve sight distance and reduce rear-end type crashes and the installation of upgraded signage, guide rails, and pavement markings.

            The project included variable message signs, speed humps, temporary traffic signals, and other safety measures located on and around the detour to address speeding and traffic congestion through the work area.