Area bridges included in governor’s initiative
Seventy-one deteriorating bridges in Fayette, Greene and Washington counties slated for repair, replacement or demolition are among 1,145 state bridges being addressed in a statewide initiative by the governor to reduce the number of structurally deficient bridges. On Thursday, Gov. Edward G. Rendell released the list of the bridges that would be repaired under his “Rebuild Pennsylvania” initiative and urged the Legislature to quickly approve his plan to avoid disruptions when worn-out bridges have to be closed or posted with weight restrictions.
The list includes 22 bridges in Fayette County, 16 bridges in Greene County and 33 bridges in Washington County in need of replacement, rehabilitation or removal.
Included in the tri-county list are 52 bridges slated for replacement, 17 bridges listed for rehabilitation and two bridges listed for removal.
The two bridges that are planned for removal include an abandoned railroad bridge in Dunbar Township, Fayette County, on Route 1049 and the Marianna Bridge, an abandoned railroad bridge in West Bethlehem Township, Washington County, on Route 2020.
Pennsylvania leads the nation with the most structurally deficient bridges, with close to 6,000. Rebuild Pennsylvania calls for investing an additional $200 million per year in bridge repairs, which, over 10 years, would mean the number of structurally deficient bridges in Pennsylvania could be cut by 40 percent. The 1,145 bridges on the list would be repaired in the first three years.
“Most motorists don’t even think about our bridges, until one closes – then the problem hits home when the time to drive to work or run an errand doubles. That’s what could happen if we don’t start repairing these bridges now,” Rendell said.
The list and a county-by-county map of all the bridges are available on the state Department of Transportation’s Web site, www.dot.state.pa.us, under the “Accelerated Bridge Program” link.
Valerie Petersen, community relations spokeswoman for PennDOT District 12, said the plan accelerates bridge improvements and gives PennDOT “certainty that these critical links will remain open and helps beat the high construction materials inflation rate.”
Petersen said the 6,000 structurally deficient bridges across the state is a “huge number and we simply can’t put off dealing with that problem.”
“The list represents more than 1,000 critical links that people across the state take for granted,” Petersen said. “Many of the structures are those that almost disappear into the background of life until one closes.”
Petersen said some, but not all, of the local bridges on the list already were slated for improvements.
Rendell said because interest rates are extremely low now, it is an opportune time for the state to embark on these necessary repairs and ensure that we leave well-maintained bridges to the next generation.
“This list represents my response to a seemingly invisible – but very real – threat to our safety, ease of travel and to the economy of Pennsylvania,” Rendell said. “We must make these repairs or we will irresponsibly leave to our children crumbling bridges and roads.”
Rendell said the list represents every one of the state’s 67 counties.
“Rural, urban and suburban residents will benefit from my proposal to accelerate the repair of these bridges,” Rendell said.
“Residents rely on every bridge on this list, but there is deterioration that travelers cannot see,” Rendell continued. “We are closely watching these bridges and have been addressing the problem for years, but if the kinds of repairs promised under my Rebuild Pennsylvania initiative are postponed, the state could be forced to close or post these bridges with weight restrictions.
“In the past five years, we have nearly tripled our investments in bridge repair,” Rendell said. “Even with our investments and increased efficiency, increased construction costs and our aging transportation systems require more strategic investments to maintain our bridges and improve our roads.
“I commend the Metropolitan Planning Organizations around the state that have worked closely with PennDOT to identify and prioritize the most critical bridge repairs needed for local residents,” the governor said.
He noted that in April, PennDOT was forced to close the Route 53 Irvona Bridge in Clearfield County for one week, which usually carries about 4,400 vehicles a day. The closure created a 25-mile detour. PennDOT completed emergency repairs that allowed one lane to be reopened after the first week. The other lane was opened later.
“Besides the inconvenience and lost time caused by such a detour, in these days of through-the-roof fuel prices, adding 50 miles to your daily commute is a tough economic hardship as well,” Rendell said. “Avoiding these kinds of closures is what my Rebuild Pennsylvania program is all about.”
Since the beginning of the year, an elevated 2-mile stretch of Interstate 95 in Philadelphia and the Birmingham Bridge in Pittsburgh had to be closed for emergency repairs.
Besides his Rebuild Pennsylvania initiative, Rendell also has announced that the state has received a $12.8 billion bid for a lease of the Pennsylvania Turnpike. The transaction, if approved by the General Assembly, could generate more than $1 billion a year in additional funding to help meet transportation needs. The Rebuild Pennsylvania long-term investment is needed regardless of the legislative decision on the turnpike lease.
Accelerating the bridge program will allow Pennsylvania to beat the 12-percent-a-year inflation rate in construction materials by getting more bridges done more promptly. The governor urged the General Assembly to approve his plan as soon as possible.
herald_standa477:
http://www.heraldstandard.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=19718754