Pocono News Section

8th Street Bridge Project Gets Going

8th Street Bridge Project Gets Going - Monday, September 29, 2008 at 2:31PM EST

Reported by: Mike Trim
Monday, Sep 29, 2008 @ 02:31pm EST
WYOMING, LUZERNE COUNTY- A replacement for a longtime Luzerne County bridge is in the works. The 8th Street Bridge connects Jenkins Township and Wyoming Borough. But many drivers tell us they're afraid to drive across it.

A 23 million dollar bid was accepted Thursday for a contractor to start work designs. It's the first step in replacing the bridge. One driver talked to us about the bridge, saying, “You mean the one that destroys the car when I drive over and it's a hazard? Yes."

PennDOT agrees, this bridge needs to go. It was built in 1914. Last Thursday, a bid was accepted to build a new one. Construction is expected to start early next year.

That's good news for people like Joe Donovan who bikes across the bridge everyday. Donovan says, "Needs to be repaired, needs to be fixed. Update it so it's safe."

Donovan sees the cracked concrete and rusty beams, and thinks about it on his commute. "I think I'm taking a risk all the time I'm going across," says Donovan.

Donovan has to make it across on a bike, but cars present a bigger problem. PennDOT says the bridge is too narrow for cars these days.

It's one of 411 bridges on the fast track for replacement or repairs statewide. The bridges are part of the first wave of the governor's Accelerated Bridge Program.

In the next few months PennDOT will look over design plans with the contractor, then work will start on the new 8th Street Bridge by next spring.

This isn't the only bridge in our area scheduled to be fixed. There is a PennDOT website that keeps track of every construction project in our area. For more information visit and click on current projects.