LANCASTER TWP — An overheight truck that caused a lane of northbound I-79 to close will cause more headaches for Lancaster Township motorists.

PennDOT announced Monday the closure of East Lancaster Road between Route 19 and Yellow Creek Road, a stretch of 1.5 miles, beginning Nov. 1 and extending through mid-April 2020.

Benjamin Kramer, township manager, said the closure through spring would allow the contractor to install a steel support to the interstate. To permanently repair the I-79 bridge, however, the township road will face an additional closure, through the end of summer 2020, to shortly follow.

The proposed detour, routing motorists down Route 19 and onto Little Creek Road, would add an additional six miles to get to the other end of the township.

The repair to the interstate comes after an overheight truck struck and damaged the bridge Oct. 4, according to PennDOT. Although Nov. 1 is the expected closure date, PennDOT will inspect the overpass daily and shut down East Lancaster Road if any signs of deterioration are present, Kramer said.

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