The Schuylkill County Commissioners Wednesday approved spending additional money for the airport road and a county bridge project in East Union Township.

Commissioners approved a change order for $76,576.93 from Lehigh Asphalt and Paving Construction, Tamaqua, for the airport parking lot upgrades. Work includes parking lot, curb repair and replacement, additional base repair, ADA improvements, signage, lighting additions, sign replacement, drainage, structure repairs upgrades and cleaning.

Money for the most recent changes will come from a grant awarded in June from the Department of Community and Economic Development.

In July, commissioners approved a contract of $1,074,420.73.

County Engineer Lisa Mahall said it was going to be a new road, which is in Foster Township and off Route 901 near Highridge Business Park.

The project involved reconstruction of the road, repaving the park and ride, guide rail replacement and stormwater improvements.

“The road project will be completed in 2021,” Mahall said previously.

The approximately 1.1-mile stretch was first constructed in 1967. In 1997, road repair, pothole patching, repaving, stormwater inlet repair and line painting was done. The park and ride was constructed in 1981.

Money for the project will come from a 2019 PennDOT Multimodal Transportation Fund Grant, which is a reimbursement grant of $674,720. The amount of the grant represents 70 percent of the 2018 project costs. Liquid fuels funds will pay the rest.

At a cost of $259,149.90, the entire superstructure of Bridge 103 Old Mill Road will be replaced.

Originally the fascia beams needed done but once work started the problems were noticed.

Commissioners awarded the initial work earlier this month to the aforementioned company for $535,596.26. Mahall said previously the work would start in October.

The structurally deficient bridge dates back to 1927. Beams on the two-lane T beam concrete bridge are starting to deteriorate due to salt application. The weight restricted bridge is 72 feet long and 24 feet wide. Dimensions will remain the same.