Chesapeake Energy is paying for upgrades to two Bradford County roads to accommodate heavy-truck traffic related to its Marcellus Shale natural gas drilling operations in the region.

Work has already begun on state Routes 1008 (Crow Hill Road) and 2017 (Marshview Road).

A detour for Crow Hill Road through traffic is in effect weekdays during daylight hours. Local traffic access will be maintained. The detour sends traffic to Route 706, Turkey Path Road and Spring Hill Road.

The gas company’s road contractor will reclaim the existing roadway and roadway base material, which involves grinding of the roadway to a depth of approximately 12 inches, adding cement to the soil, mixing it and compacting it, according to a press release from PennDOT. The reclamation will be followed by the placement of 6.5 inches of blacktop pavement.

The entire 2.7-mile length of Crow Hill Road, from Route 706 near Camptown in Wyalusing Township to Spring Hill Road in Tuscarora Township, will be upgraded. Work is scheduled for completion by Sept. 30.

The work on Marshview Road will take place along its entire 3.2-mile length, from the intersection with North Street in Terry Township to the intersection with Liberty Corners Road in Asylum Township.

An around-the-clock detour will be in effect. The detour will use North Street, Route 187 and Liberty Corners Road.

The contractor will excavate approximately 12 inches of the existing roadway, reconstruct it with 12 inches of rock/sub-base material and place 7.5 inches of blacktop pavement on top, according to PennDOT.

The project is expected to be completed by Oct. 26.

The roads are currently posted with year-round, 10-ton weight restrictions. Chesapeake has excess maintenance agreements with PennDOT and is responsible for repairs to damages caused by its heavy trucks.

Chesapeake has determined it would be more cost-effective to upgrade the roads rather than make continuous repairs, PennDOT reports.

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