Freedom Bridge project completed in Greene County
The Freedom Bridge roadway along routes 19 and 21 in Franklin Township and Waynesburg Borough has been expanded to four lanes, making it easier and safer for traffic flow. (Photo by Steve Barrett)
Freedom Bridge is named in honor of local veterans Capt. John R. Hill, Maj. James A. Crew, Lt. Charles M. Rein and all other Pennsylvania POW-MIA’s and veterans of all wars.
State and local officials joined representatives from the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation last week to celebrate the completion of the $15.1 million Freedom Bridge construction project in Greene County.
The project was deemed necessary due to safety and traffic flow reasons, as the bridge only provided one lane into Waynesburg and one lane out.
PennDOT officials said during construction that the bridge was a “natural chokepoint” for traffic during rush hour, and that the goal of the project was to expand the previous two-lane road to one that would be four lanes wide.
In addition to the lane expansion, the project also enabled the contractor, Gulisek Construction LLC of Mount Pleasant, to increase the hydraulic opening of the bridge to allow more water to flow in high-water conditions. Two new railroad bridges — including the overpass at Freedom Bridge — were also part of the project.
“This project is a true reflection of the many community entities working together,” said Joseph Szczur, PennDOT District 12 executive. “I am thrilled to see this significant project be brought to fruition. This new and improved bridge and roadways are going to benefit generations to come.”
Szczur said the project had been in planning stages for over a decade, and he acknowledged several officials who had been involved with the project since its early stages, including Greene County Commissioner Dave Coder, state Rep. Pam Snyder (who was serving as county commissioner at the time) and the late state Sen. J. Barry Stout.
Snyder said at the ceremony that the bridge is a “gateway to the borough and to the county seat,” and that it was a long process that was worth it in the end.
“There’s an old saying, ‘No pain, no gain,’ and that certainly holds true for this project,” she said. “This project has been painful. It was four years in the making, a massive undertaking. And yet, it is so important for safety …. It’s important to this area because thousands of drivers rely on the new Freedom Bridge on a daily basis. Those using Route 19/21 will now be able to get from one end of the community to the other without being forced to take a detour.”
Snyder said the project began in the spring of 2013 but ran about a year behind schedule because PennDOT had to not only replace the road bridge going over Ten Mile Creek, but also the former railroad overpass nearby in order to successfully expand traffic from two to four lanes.
These issues, combined with winter weather and several utility issues, created unforeseen complications and delayed the completion date, the officials said.
Freedom Bridge is named in honor of local veterans Capt. John C. Hill, Maj. James A. Crew, Lt. Charles M. Rein and all other Pennsylvania POW-MIA’s and veterans of all wars. Snyder recognized them, stating that “everyone here is so proud to see the bridge named in their honor and in honor of all veterans. We wouldn’t be here today without their service.”