In light of the March 31 fatal crash on I-78, which snarled traffic for some 11 hours and and forced detours between Exit 40, Route 737, Greenwich Township, Berks County; Route 863, Weisenberg Township, and Route 100, Fogelsville, the information session for the improvement project and detours for Route 863 (Golden Key Road) bridge over I-78, now seems like an eerie premonition.

Many of the personnel from local ambulance corps and police departments, who responded to the fatal crash, also attended the March 24 presentation on proposed project detours.

In addition, officials from neighboring townships and busnesses attended the event at the Weisenberg Township Municipal Building.

Hillwood Investment Properties, in cooperation with township officials and PennDOT District 5-0 office, displayed plans to replace the functionally obsolete bridge at I-78's Exit 45.

Bridge replacement and roadway improvements to the on and off ramps are part of a larger PennDOT project to accommodate increased industrial park traffic.

According to information provided at the presentation, the proposed structure will consist of four lanes, each 11 feet wide with two shoulders, each 8 feet wide with a span length of 118 feet 9 inches to accommodate future lane expansion on I-78.

Approximately 500 feet of Route 863's (Golden Key Road) southern approach and 300 feet of the northern approach to the bridge will be overlaid and widened to transition into the additional lanes on the bridge.

Access ramps to and from I-78 will be slightly widened at the intersections and partially overlaid with asphalt pavement.

Existing traffic signals at the westbound on and off-ramp intersection will be modified to accommodate the new lane configuration.

Use of precast concrete bridge components, including foundation, beams and bridge deck will be used to accelerate construction and limit duration of detour and associated impacts to traffic during construction.

The project is expected to run June through October 2015. However, detours are expected to be in place for only two months in July and August.

The accelerated construction plan, including the precast bridge, allows for the shortened detour time and completion in one construction season.

During the open house, attendees viewed multiple boards depicting planned lane expansions, bridge replacement and truck traffic detours. Engineers from Herbert, Rowland and Grubic Inc. were on-hand to provide information and answer questions about the project.

"We have a signed detour route which will use the interchange to the west and the interstate to the east to make the circle and come back," said Ryan Hostetter, HRG Engineer. "However we feel a lot of the local, noncommercial traffic will find other ways around."

"The existing bridge had two lanes with a shoulder," HRG engineer, Daniel Long said. "The new bridge will have a left turn lane for both sides, a travel lane on both sides, and a shoulder on both sides."

The area of most concern involved the truck traffic and the possibility of trucks missing the detour and getting stuck on small roads in the community.

However, even residents agreed the proposed detours appeared satisfactory and were encouraged by the relatively short duration of the project.

"That's why we're all here," resident Mary Fabian said. "We wanted to know the truck routes, but they have it laid out pretty good."

Resident James Bachman summed up the evening's presentation.

"This is a temporary inconvenience for a permanent improvement" Bachman said.