Section 24. Richard B. Whitehead Memorial Bridges.
(a) Findings.--The General Assembly finds and declares as follows:
(1) Richard Byrd Whitehead was born on April 15, 1930, in the small mountain community of Philipsburg. He was one of 10 children born to Mae and Leslie Whitehead, who were lifelong residents of the town. He graduated from Philipsburg High School in 1949, where he participated in a number of sports, including football and baseball.
(2) In 1951, he entered the United States Air Force and attained the rank of Airman Second Class. He completed a successful tenure in the service, including time spent in Japan. He returned on October 3, 1953, aboard the USS James O'Hara.
(3) Through Iron Workers Local Union No. 772, currently Iron Workers Local Union No. 3, of Clearfield, he was recruited to work on the Interstate 80 construction project, a part of which included the viaduct bridge construction near Kylertown.
(4) Richard Byrd Whitehead was tragically killed at the viaduct bridge construction site on July 29, 1966, as a result of a fall, leaving behind his beloved wife and two young children, Richard Byrd and Julie Kay. He was a devoted husband, father, son, brother, uncle and cousin and a friend to many in his close-knit community.
(b) Designation.--The viaduct bridges located on Interstate 80, Eastbound, Segment Number 1382, Offset 0000, and Westbound, Segment Number 1383, Offset 0000, in Cooper Township, Clearfield County, over Moshannon Creek are designated the Richard B. Whitehead Memorial Bridges.
(c) Signs.--The Department of Transportation shall erect and maintain appropriate signs displaying the name of the bridges to traffic in both directions on the bridges.