CLARION – Boards of township supervisors in six county municipalities will soon have more information on bridges a recent study found “operational redundant.”
Township owned bridges in Redbank, Limestone, Perry, Porter, Salem and Richland townships were identified in the study as candidates for closure or removal.
Quality Engineering Solutions of Conneaut Lake completed the bridge inventory study for structures on the local route system within Clarion, Crawford, Forest, Venango and Warren counties.
The funding for the study came through PennDOT to the Northwest Commission for the Work Program.
The Northwest Commission used Unified Planning Work Program funds to pay for the $94,000 study. The decision to do the study came as a result of PennDOT’s focus on transportation assets.
The findings are recommendations only and are not binding orders to the townships.
The candidate bridges for closure or removal in Clarion County include:
— A bridge along Shettler Road over Canoe Creek in Redbank Township. The potential permanent detour is 1.15 miles. The road is a school bus route.
— A bridge along Curll Road over Piney Creek in Limestone Township. The potential permanent detour is 2.5 miles. The road is not a school bus route.
— A bridge along Limestone Road over Piney Creek in Limestone Township. The potential permanent detour is .37 miles. The road is not a school bus route.
— A bridge along Hagentown Road over a tributary to the Allegheny River in Perry Township. The potential permanent detour is .44 miles. The road is a school bus route.
— A bridge along Sled Road over Fiddlers Run in Porter Township. The potential permanent detour is 3.2 miles. The road is a school bus route.
— A bridge along Windmill Road over Town Run in Redbank Township. The potential permanent detour is 1.94 miles. The road is a school bus route.
— A bridge along Dewey Road over Pine Creek in Redbank Township. The potential permanent detour is 1.92 miles. The road is a school bus route.
— A bridge along Truittsburg Road over Town Run in Redbank Township. The potential permanent detour is three miles. The road is a school bus route.
— A bridge along Ritts Farm Road over Turkey Run in Richland Township. The potential permanent detour is 3.6 miles. The road is a school bus route.
— A bridge along Mehrten Road over Beaver Creek in Salem Township. This bridge has been closed for several years and access to the short span is blocked.
What does it mean?
Sherry Morian, president of Quality Engineering Solutions, told a small gathering of township officials Jan. 27 the findings and recommendations are intended to help township supervisors and PennDOT decide which bridges could be closed.
But that doesn’t mean the bridges will be closed.
Morian said the final decision on the future of the bridges remains at the township level.
The study found some of the bridges “structurally deficient.”
Project manager Luis Ramirez told the gathering of about 10 to 12 township officials “structurally deficient” doesn’t mean the bridge is in danger of collapse.
Ramirez said all of the candidate bridges are used by less than 500 vehicles per day.
Another factor in designating the bridges for possible closure and removal was each bridge has a potential detour of less than five miles.
Still another factor in the designations – none of the bridges are currently scheduled for repair or replacement.
Morian said PennDOT is looking for information about local bridges in situations where closing the bridges might be more feasible with a detour on improved roads than repairing the bridges and leaving the roads in poor condition.
Further information is expected to be released to the township as the study is completed and compiled.
None of the township officials present gave any indication they are considering closing any of the bridges discussed.