Governor proposes bridge fix
By CHUCK HAYES chayes@timesobserver.com
POSTED: June 5, 2008
Governor Ed Rendell has the cure for what ails Warren County’s bridges.
Under Rendell’s “Rebuild Pennsylvania” program, an additional $200 million per year would be invested in repairing and replacing deficient bridges in Pennsylvania over the next three years.
A list unveiled by Rendell last week included 1,145 state-owned bridges which would be repaired or replaced with the additional funding, including 16 in Warren County.
Rendell’s initiative is awaiting approval by the General Assembly.
Warren County bridges listed in the governor’s proposal include:
• Rt. 6 bridge over Ott Run, Mead Township, rehabilitation.
• Rt. 6 bridge over Six-Mile Creek, Mead Township, replacement.
• Rt. 27 bridge over Pine Creek, Southwest Township, preservation.
• Rt. 27 bridge over Dunderdale Creek, Eldred Township, replacement.
• Rt. 27 bridge over branch of Garland Run, Pittsfield Township, replacement.
• Rt. 27 truss bridge over Little Brokenstraw Creek, Pittsfield Township, replacement.
• Rt. 69 bridge over branch of Jackson Run, Farmington Township, rehabilitation.
• Rt. 957 bridge over Little Brokenstraw Creek, Freehold Township, rehabilitation.
• State Rt. 1013 bridge over Fishburn Run, Elk Township, preservation.
• Scott Run bridge over Scott Run, Conewango Township, replacement.
• Chapman Dam Rd. bridge over Elkhorn Run, Pleasant Township, rehabilitation.
• State Rt. 3014 bridge over Brokenstraw Creek, Pittsfield Township, rehabilitation.
• Lindsey Hill Rd. bridge over branch of Whitney Run, Spring Creek Township, Spring Creek Township, rehabilitation.
• State Rt. 4013 bridge over Brokenstraw Creek, Columbus Township, rehabilitation.
• State Rt. 4013 bridge over Brokenstraw Creek, Columbus Township, rehabilitation.
• Matthew Run Rd. bridge over Matthews Run, Youngsville, rehabilitation.
In December 2007, PennDOT released a report indicating that of the 213 bridges in Warren County, 61 were regarded as “structurally deficient,” but the majority of the bridges are owned by townships and municipalities.
Bridges are deemed structurally deficient if heavy trucks are banned, weight restrictions are imposed, or if immediate work is needed to keep a span open, but if PennDOT regards a bridge as unsafe, the bridge is closed immediately.
Rendell said that under his proposal, the number of structurally deficient bridges in the state would be cut by 40 percent.
Seven bridges in Forest County are also on the list released by Rendell.
The governor said adoption of the “Rebuild Pennsylvania” initiative is essential, whether or not state lawmakers agree to lease the Pennsylvania Turnpike and generate new transportation revenue.
