CLEARFIELD — The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation will begin work on Monday to replace two bridges on Route 59 in Keating Township.

Replacing the bridges will allow PennDOT to remove them from McKean County’s structurally deficient list. One bridge will be replaced in 2017, with the other replaced in 2018.

This year, replacement work will concentrate on a bridge west of Smethport, spanning Blacksmith Run. The bridge dates back from 1928 and carries an average of more than 2,400 vehicles each day. The existing bridge will be replaced with a new spread box beam bridge.  

Initial project work will get underway Monday, with daylight flagging in place to control an alternating traffic pattern. Temporary traffic signals are expected to be in place May 11. The temporary signals will control traffic in an alternating pattern through the completion of the first bridge, which is expected this fall. Other project work includes drainage improvements, roadway reconstruction, paving, and guide rail updates.  

In 2018, crews will work to replace the second bridge, which spans Blacksmith Run about one and a half miles west of Smethport. It dates back from 1930 and also carries an average of more than 2,400 vehicles daily.  

All work is weather and schedule dependent. Thomas Construction Inc. of Grove City is the contractor on this $2.6 million project.