Emergency responders said they believe they can deal with navigating the traffic congestion that will result during the "Mady's bridge" project.
"We don't believe patient care is going to be impacted," Patrick Moran, education coordinator for the Pottsville/Schuylkill Haven Area EMS, said Thursday at its headquarters, 320 N. Ninth St.
He said the ambulance company works well with the Schuylkill County Communications Center.
"As long as we're sending the right truck to the right location, there should not be an impact in getting to the scene," he said.
Moran said the ambulance company has three locations in Pottsville, Schuylkill Haven and Orwigsburg.
The state Department of Transportation is replacing the two bridges in Pottsville and Palo Alto after they were deemed structurally deficit in 2001 due to abutment issues.
The $10,568,416 project awarded to Glenn O. Hawbaker Inc., State College, is slated for completion in August 2017.
The project will cause lane closures and other traffic restrictions, such as two temporary lights - one at Bacon Street in Palo Alto and Route 61, and another at Route 61 and Mauch Chunk Street.
Pottsville fire Chief Todd March said Wednesday that fire companies can take alternate routes, such as Centre Street or under the Mount Carbon Arch.
"I don't think there will be much of a delay for us responding down in that area," he said.
He had expressed concern about getting to the intersection because of the traffic.
"It's going to be a mess down there for three years," March said.
March said the fire department will do the best it can given the circumstances.
"My concern would be the increased traffic at that intersection (at Route 61 and Mauch Chunk)," March said.
John Matz, Schuylkill County Emergency Management Agency director, said the traffic will be more of a challenge in the area.
"Is it going to be slower? Yes," Matz said
Ron Young, press officer for PennDOT District 5, Allentown, said Thursday that emergency responders will be permitted to turn left at Route 61 and Mauch Chunk Street. All other motorists will be prohibited from turning left at the intersection.
The two temporary lights will have devices permitting emergency responders to go through the lights, Young said in an email Friday. The contractor will provide 40 handheld devices to Schuylkill County EMA to distribute as needed prior to activation of the lights, Young said.
Upon learning of the ability to change the lights, March said, "That would be great if they would supply that to us. Time wise and also safety wise, that would be great."
Young said the temporary signals could be up by mid April.
Lane restrictions of one lane southbound and two northbound could start weather permitting or until temperatures are 40 degrees or higher.
Until that happens, motorists could see daytime lane restrictions on north- or southbound lanes from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Young said.
Moran is asking motorist to yield to the right of the road as safety will permit so emergency personnel can get to where they need to go.
The ambulance company gets about 15,000 calls a year.
Moran said the "short term inconvenience (traffic congestions and limitations) is going to be a long term gain," because the bridges need repair.
Located in Palo Alto, "Mady's Big Bridge" is a 314-foot-long and 64-foot-wide four-span concrete encased steel I-beam bridge over the Reading, Blue Mountain & Northern Railroad.
It will be replaced with a two-span concrete bulb-tee beam bridge that measures 63 feet 10 inches wide.
"Mady's Small Bridge" in Pottsville over the Schuylkill River is 79 feet long and 62 feet wide. It is a single span steel I-beam bridge. The replacement will be 100 feet long and 62 feet 6 inches wide.
The length of the bridge will increase due to the abutments being moved 10 feet to provide for a wider channel.