Replacement of overpass to cost at least $4M

EIGHTY FOUR, Pa. (AP) — Transportation officials say it will cost at least $4 million to replace a Pennsylvania bridge torn down after being damaged by a truck carrying an oversized load.

PennDOT officials said Thursday they’ll dip into a fund for structurally deficient bridges to replace the overpass that spanned Interstate 70 in Somerset Township, Washington County.

The overpass was damaged October 18 when a truck carrying an oversized load tore a gash through seven of the bridge’s 13 steel beams. Traffic was diverted off Interstate 70 for nearly 24 hours after officials ordered an emergency demolition.

The truck’s driver received more than a dozen traffic citations stemming from the crash. PennDOT officials say they will go after the driver for at least part of the bill.