NEWS

Coudersport, PA- The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) is alerting area motorists that a Potter County box culvert replacement project will begin on Monday, June 19. The bridge spans a tributary to the south branch of Oswayo Creek on Route 44 in Hebron Township. Built in 1938, the structure is 19 feet long and carries an average of more than 1,300 vehicles daily. Replacing the box culvert will improve its rating from poor to good.

Starting June 19, preliminary work will begin under daylight signing and roadway flaggers.

Preliminary work includes erosion and sedimentation controls, clearing and grubbing, and construction of a temporary roadway.  

Once preliminary work is complete, the bridge will be closed, and the temporary roadway will carry traffic around the work zone. PennDOT expects the temporary road to be opened to traffic during the first week of July, with temporary traffic signals in use. In order to limit access points to the temporary road, T-343 (Tennessee Road) will also be closed. During that closure, a detour using Route 44 will be in place.

Overall work includes the removal of the existing bridge, construction of a new concrete box culvert, approach paving, guide rail installation, pavement base drain, pavement markings, and miscellaneous items. Dean Construction, LLC. is the contractor for this $1.7 million project, with completion expected in mid-September. All work is weather dependent.

Motorists are encouraged to “Know Before They Go” by checking conditions on more than 40,000 roadway miles 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 1,000 traffic cameras.

511PA is also available through a smartphone application for iPhone and Android devices, by calling 5-1-1, or by following regional Twitter alerts accessible on the 511PA website.

Tony Bixby, director
Prehospital Services, UPMC

The No. 1 cause of preventable death from trauma is uncontrolled bleeding. To help encourage bystanders to become trained and empowered to help in life-threatening bleeding emergencies, Stop the Bleed, a national awareness campaign was launched in 2015 by the White House. The general public’s need for this information is immense, as four out of five victims of a mass casualty are delivered to the hospital by someone other than a trained first responder, and the fact that 35 percent of all pre-hospital deaths are caused by blood loss.

Serious bleeding emergencies can be caused by a number of things in various settings – at home, work, sporting events, vehicle accidents, animal bites, and episodes of mass casualties are just a few.

How to Stop the Bleed

There are a few key steps in stopping the bleed. The first is to ensure your own safety by making sure that you are in a safe place to help. If this changes at any time, attempt to remove yourself and any other victims, if possible, from danger. Once your safety is established, remember your ABCs of Bleeding:

• Alert – Call 911.
• Bleeding – Find the source of the blood.
• Compress –Cover the wound and use both hands to apply pressure, use a tourniquet above the wound, or pack (stuff) the wound with clean cloth or gauze and then apply pressure with both hands.

Tourniquets

Crary Hose Company

On 06/12/23 @ 16:55 Depts 5, 6, 20, and 26 Ambulance were dispatched to 165 W Main St. Westfield Borough, to the scene of a motor vehicle accident, two vehicles, pickup hauling trailer vs. car, possible injuries. Chief 5-10 was on scene at 16:58, establishing command, and held Depts 6 and 20 at stations. Squad 5-18 responded at 17:00, with Engine 5-3 responding shortly thereafter. Westfield Borough Police were on scene.

Although both vehicles sustained significant damage, all occupants walked away from the accident and refused transport to the hospital. Dept 5 personnel provided patient care, traffic control and cleanup, remaining on scene until 18:16. Ambulance 26-17 responded to scene but was not needed and returned shortly after arrival. Dept 6 units provided traffic control on the eastern end of the detour. Whites Repair provided towing.

We are thankful for the health of all involved and wish them well. Thank you to all who responded.