Ground broken for Layton Bridge replacement project

The project will also include improvements to Layton Road.

By the MVI

PennDOT Secretary Mike Carroll and local officials broke ground last week on the Layton Bridge (Route 4038) replacement project in Perry Township and Perryopolis Borough, Fayette County.

This long-anticipated investment will improve safety, reliability and mobility for residents, school transportation, emergency responders and pedestrians, officials said.

“The Layton Bridge project represents a major milestone for the community after years of careful planning, coordination, and required historical and environmental reviews before construction could begin on a new bridge,” according to a PennDOT press release.

The state’s 2026 budget allocates more than $1.8 billion in funding to repair roads and bridges and continues to sustainably fund the Pennsylvania State Police by reducing their reliance on the Motor License Fund.

Shapiro said he has secured $391.7 million in additional funding for roads and bridges since taking office. Since 2023, the Shapiro administration has improved 19,183 miles of roadway and work has advanced on 1,615 state and local bridges, completing work on 733 of those bridges.

“Every community, every time. That’s my commitment, and that’s Gov. Shapiro’s commitment to every Pennsylvanian,” Carroll said. “When completed, this project will improve safety, reliability, and mobility for motorists and emergency services. It will also improve connectivity and safety for users of the Great Allegheny Passage Trail, strengthening this important regional asset. We are proud to deliver a project that will serve the region for generations.”

The project involves replacing the 17-span Layton Bridge over the Youghiogheny River and includes additional bridge, roadway and safety improvements along Layton Road (Route 4038) between Route 51 and the town of Layton.

PennDOT has continued to invest in the existing Layton Bridge throughout the project development process to keep it open as long as possible, helping avoid a 17.5-mile detour for motorists, school buses and emergency services.

This project includes:

• Replacing the Layton Bridge over the Youghiogheny River with a new three-span bridge.

• Replacing the Washington Run bridge near Falbo Road with a new two-lane structure.

• Rehabilitating the Washington Run bridge near Strawn Road, including new pavement, concrete repairs and updated guiderail.

• Closing and sealing the Layton Tunnel, which currently restricts traffic to one lane.

• Removing the existing Layton Bridge once the new bridge is open to traffic.

• Roadway improvements along Layton Road, including full-depth reconstruction and widening to connect the new structures.

The project is necessary because the existing Layton Bridge, built in 1899, was originally designed for railroad use and now carries only one lane of traffic. Despite previous repairs, the bridge has reached the end of its service life due to age and corrosion.

Similarly, the bridge over Washington Run near Falbo Road was also constructed for rail traffic and provides only a narrow, single-lane crossing.

While the Washington Run bridge near Strawn Road remains in comparatively better condition, repairs are needed to extend its service life. The Layton Tunnel, which is narrow and single lane, will no longer align with the roadway once the new bridge is constructed and will be permanently closed.

To minimize impacts to the traveling public:

• A new alignment of Layton Road will be constructed just south of the existing roadway. This allows traffic to continue using the current bridge and tunnel for most of the construction period.

• Washington Run will have a slight relocation to accommodate the widened roadway.

• Hillside excavation near the tunnel will make room for the new road and bridge abutment while protecting the historic tunnel structure.

• A temporary trestle will be constructed in the Youghiogheny River to support bridge construction operations.

• Once the new bridge and roadway are complete, traffic will be shifted, the old Layton Bridge will be removed and the Layton Tunnel will be closed and sealed.

PennDOT will provide ongoing updates throughout construction and continues to work closely with local officials and the community to keep residents informed. For more information, visit the department’s Layton Bridge Improvement and Replacement webpage.

Motorists can check conditions on major roadways by visiting www.511PA.com. 511PA, which is free and available 24 hours a day, provides traffic delay warnings, weather forecasts, traffic speed information and access to more than 1,200 traffic cameras. 511PA is also available through a smartphone application for iPhone and Android devices, by calling 5-1-1, or by following regional X alerts.