Jun 5, 2024 By Amy Fauth 3 min read

The Perryopolis and Perry Township communities are bracing for a challenging four months as the historic Layton Bridge, which carries Layton Road over the Youghiogheny River and the River Trail, closes next Tuesday.

“It’s a huge impact to the community,” said Perry Township Volunteer Fire Department Chief AJ Boni.

While the detours will be a general nuisance for drivers, when there’s an emergency, Boni said, first responders will have to use a lengthy detour from one side of the river to the other.

“When there’s an emergency response, minutes matter,” he said.

With the bridge work occurring in the summer, Boni said he’s also concerned about emergencies related to recreation on the river and the bike trail.

To ensure prompt response times, first responders in Dawson and Smithton will help with the coverage areas closer to them, Boni said.

Crews from the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation District 12 will close the bridge between Falbo Road and Circle Street in Perry Township. The bridge will be inspected by PennDOT, followed by planned repairs to the structural steel, according to Laina Aquiline, spokesperson for PennDOT District 12. The project is an infrastructure improvement of $4.3 million.

The closure is anticipated until late October, but Aquiline said the bridge will be reinspected throughout the project, so time could be added to the project if additional repairs are necessary.

This isn’t the first time the community has dealt with closures and detours related to the bridge and tunnel – and it won’t be the last. A preservation project on the bridge and tunnel occurred between the 2022 and 2023 construction seasons. Also, subsequent work is expected on the bridge, and a total bridge replacement is expected beginning in 2025, according to PennDOT.

Perryopolis Mayor Charles “Bud” Petrosky said most residents are getting used to the closures.

Both he and Boni are hopeful that area residents will continue to support the businesses impacted by the closure, particularly seasonal ones like Linden Hall in Dawson, which includes a golf course, and Hazelbaker Canoe Rentals in Perryopolis.

“Those types of businesses rely on this time of year,” said Boni. “It’s their prime season.”

Petrosky urged those heading out in the area to plan ahead and leave plenty of time to navigate the posted detours.

Perryopolis Chief of Police Roger Beadling said his department is ready for the closure. And while detours are never ideal, Beadling said summer might be the simplest time for one.

“That’s the good thing – it’s not during the school year,” he said.