Fay, S&B USA Construction (Fay), a Pittsburgh-based firm specializing in heavy civil infrastructure projects in the Mid-Atlantic region, has been awarded a $39 million contract by the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) to replace the Layton Bridge and perform additional bridge, roadway and safety improvements in Perry Township and Perryopolis Borough, Fayette County.

The infrastructure investment will improve safety, reliability and mobility for residents, school transportation, first responders and pedestrians in these southwestern Pennsylvania communities.

The project will replace the Layton Bridge, a 17-span, steel Pratt Truss bridge over the Youghiogheny River with a modern two-lane, three-span composite steel I-girder bridge. The current one-lane structure has reached the end of its service life due to age and corrosion. Fay also will:

• replace a single-lane bridge over Washington Run near Falbo Road with a new two-lane structure;

• rehabilitate another bridge over Washington Run near Strawn Road, including new pavement, concrete repairs and updated guide rail;

• close and seal the Layton Tunnel, which is restricted to one traffic lane;

• demolish and remove the current Layton Bridge and Washington Run bridge after these two new structures open to traffic; and,

• realign Layton Road and make improvements, including full-depth reconstruction and widening, to connect the new bridges.

Built in 1899, the Layton bridge was originally designed as a railroad crossing and carries only one lane of traffic. Fay will construct the new bridge approximately 200 ft. southeast of the current structure. Fay crews will build from a temporary trestle, which is a work platform that will span the Youghiogheny River and is capable of supporting multiple cranes. This approach will allow PennDOT to keep the current bridge and tunnel open during most of the construction and avoid a 17.5-mi. detour.

Upon completion of the bridge and road realignment, Fay will close and seal the Layton Tunnel, which will no longer align with the new Layton Road alignment.

"This project is a critical investment in the safety and mobility of Fayette County," said Bryan Frye, project executive of Fay. "Our team is proud to partner with PennDOT to replace this aging structure with modern infrastructure that will serve the community for generations. Fay brings deep bridge-building expertise, disciplined execution and strong safety performance to deliver this work efficiently while minimizing impacts to the traveling public."

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