The structurally deficient Route 100 bridge over the Schuylkill River in North Coventry Township, Chester County, and Pottstown Borough, Montgomery County, will be reduced from four lanes to two for 18 months starting Wednesday, Jan. 5, 2011 for the replacement of the concrete bridge deck and structural steel repairs.

PennDOT advises Route 100 motorists to allow additional time for travel once construction begins because slowdowns will occur when northbound and southbound traffic on the bridge is restricted to one lane. The bridge carries approximately 36,000 vehicles a day.

Crews will reconstruct the five-span bridge one half at a time in order to keep two lanes open during construction. They will remove and replace the bridge’s concrete deck; repair steel floor beams and steel stringer beams that support the deck; paint structural steel; and repair concrete abutments at both ends of the bridge.

Work on the Route 100 bridge is scheduled to finish by July 2012.