MILLHEIM — With two major roadwork projects occurring at around the same time, traffic in quiet Penns Valley may become a little congested starting next month.
Work on the Penns Valley Road (state Route 45) bridge that passes over Pine Creek in Woodward is slated to begin Thursday, July 5, and finish in August. The bridge will be completely closed to traffic, so truck and car detours will be in place. All trucks from Lewisburg to Centre Hall will instead take state Route 192 around the work zone. Cars will be directed to follow a detour of Bower Hollow Road (T-508), Pine Creek Road (Route 2018), and Route 45.
Then, later in the month, Milheim is looking to replace a water main that goes through the Millheim Narrows, up Route 445. Borough Council president Alan Ilgen said the project will close traffic to one lane on the road. This is a concern, as traffic that is rerouted from the bridge project to Route 192 and looking into coming into Milheim from Route 445 could become backed up, said Ilgen.
Bids for the water main project currently are being reviewed. If things go as planned, the project will begin Tuesday, July 24, and end Saturday, Oct. 27.
