Pocono News Section

PennDOT Waging War on Troubled Bridges

PennDOT Waging War on Troubled Bridges - Monday, September 14, 2009 at 5:35PM EST

Reported by: Eric Deabill
Monday, Sep 14, 2009 @ 05:35pm EDT
NEW MILFORD, SUSQUEHANNA COUNTY Ð PennDOT is waging war on some of its most troubled bridges. Maintenance crews are improving signage and drainage issues as part of its annual ÒBridge WeekÓ initiative.

PennDOT crews spent Monday morning working to improve safety issues on the Route 1016 bridge in New Milford Borough.

Because the span is right off Route 11, engineers say the improvements here are a priority. PennDOT Foreman Marty Reed said, ÒThis particular bridge, we cut some brush, improved visibility for traffic, just daylighted the roadway itself, cleared the signs. Clear the brush away from the signs."

This bridge is just the first that PennDOT is targeting in a six-county region. People who in the neighborhood are happy to see something being done. Antoinette Silverii said, ÒI think anything to better how the neighborhood looks is positive."

Others say itÕs not just about looks, itÕs about cutting down the possibility of accidents. Before all the work was complete, Anthony Baker didn't even know there was a bridge there at all. ÒNo. Believe it or not, no. ItÕs looking a lot better. A lot better,Ó he said.

By mid-afternoon PennDOT workers had wrapped up most of the work. They also saw the difference. ÒWhen we got here, we really couldn't see the bridge, just the inside part of it, but we daylighted it and it looks a lot better," added Reed.

Other bridges in Susquehanna County including ones in New Milford Township and Clifford are on the targeted list for later this week.

Similar bridge projects are planned in Lackawanna, Luzerne, Pike, Wayne and Wyoming counties.