John Boyle
Sat, 02 Oct 2004 14:24:54 -0700
Save these bridges for bicycles and pedestrians JB http://www.pottstownmercury.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=13046989&BRD=1674&PAG=4 61&dept_id=18041&rfi=6 BIRDSBORO -- Pennsylvania Department of Transportation officials told the borough Tuesday that two bridges along Route 82 will be removed and not replaced. "They said those bridges will definitely be coming out," said Borough Manager Randy Miller. "There was never a plan to replace them." Advertisement Pedestrians use the bridge to walk across, but when that bridge is gone they’ll have to cross the stream. "For horses, that’s not difficult, but for people it will be," Miller said. He added that there is a plan in the works to try to resolve the problem, but he refused to elaborate until it’s a done deal. PennDOT officials said they will remove the bridges during their next working season, which will be sometime in 2005. The two bridges to be removed are the first bridge beyond Rustic Picnic Area (commonly referred to as Tucci bridge) and the third bridge beyond the picnic area. Those two bridges were closed after the 1987 flood but were still used up until July by borough and police vehicles. Pedestrians continue to use the bridges. During the July storms, the bridges that were damaged from an earlier flood were completely destroyed. PennDOT still plans to reopen the section of Route 82 that has been closed since the 1987 flood, but with a new alignment that will make fewer crossings over the Hay Creek. "Their plan is that it will have a trail along the one side of it," Miller said. PennDOT is planning to hold another public meeting to present the plans, but a date has not been set. "The whole idea is that there will be some kind of trail there," Miller said. The closed area of Route 82 has been used heavily by walkers, joggers, bicycle riders and horseback riders. "We just want to ensure there’s still access between now and that time," Miller said. ©The Mercury 2004 ---- You are receiving this because you are subscribed to the list named "bike." To subscribe or unsubscribe or for archive information, see <http://www.purple.com/list.html>. See also http://bcgp.blogspot.com/ and http://www.bicyclecoalition.org/