Borough Getting Behind Effort To Protect Historic Bridge
Borough Council will send a letter to PennDOT requesting another meeting regarding the proposed rehabilitation of the Centre Avenue Bridge.
Newtown Borough is getting behind an effort to protect the historic Centre Avenue Bridge.
Borough Council on Tuesday unanimously voted to send a letter to PennDOT requesting another meeting regarding the proposed rehabilitation of the Centre Avenue Bridge.
The action was prompted by a public statement from former council president Julia Woldorf, who is part of a group of residents opposing PennDOT’s proposal for the bridge rehabilitation project due to what they say is a lack of historic integrity.
In February, PennDOT presented its proposal to rehabilitate the historic bridge, which carries more than 7,800 cars a day on average. The bridge, which crosses the Newtown Creek, is more than 200 years old and is on the National Register of Historic Places.
PennDOT’s plan, which proposes to dismantle the bridge down to the arches, concerned some members of the community, including representatives from The Newtown Historic Association, The First National Bank and Trust Company of Newtown and the Newtown Creek Coalition.
The groups united and hired an independent preservation specialist to assist in encouraging PennDOT to ensure the repairs are done in a way that’s sensitive to the bridge’s historical significance. In late February, the group held a public meeting to discuss alternatives. PennDOT was invited to attend but declined.
PennDOT’s current plan for the bridge is to fill the interior with concrete and pour a concrete slab roadway. The new concrete walls will be veneered with sliced pieces of the existing stone.
“Despite PennDOT’s attempt to maintain aesthetics, Newtown’s bridge will clearly no longer be the same,” Woldorf said.
State Senator Chuck McIlhinney and Representative Steve Santarsiero support the group’s efforts to preserve the historic integrity of the bridge, Woldorf noted, adding they both sent a letter to PennDOT to request a follow-up meeting.
Woldorf said she plans to attend Wednesday’s Newtown Township Board of Supervisors meeting to ask that the township also send a letter requesting a follow-up meeting about the bridge.
“It’s very time sensitive. PennDOT intends to put the bids out in April,” she said.
Mari
10:42 pm on Tuesday, March 13, 2012
Perhaps if the bridge repair cost is over what PennDot will pay, there can be donation plaques added to the bridge to cover the extra amount needed. All boro residents may not feel the need to have this bridge repaired historically, so all should not be forced to pay (extra taxes?) How about charging a toll? Just kidding...maybe...
Bill Mahler
8:34 am on Wednesday, March 14, 2012
Mari, it won't cost taxpayers anything extra. The project is being paid for with federal grant money. It's because the Federal funding is involved that PennDOT has an obligation to follow statute 106, which is a specific set of guidelines which includes recognizing public comment and whether historic integrity will be affected. Up to this point, PennDOT has failed to follow this procedure in any way. On fact, prior to the February meeting, PennDOT admits that they were not even aware that the bridge was on the National Register of Historic Places!
bobrodo
8:49 am on Wednesday, March 14, 2012
Thanks Bill background. We need more info like this to provide our residents with correct info.
the VOICE
12:28 pm on Wednesday, March 14, 2012
FIX, the Damn Bridge !
Taximan Steve Lindsey
8:53 pm on Wednesday, March 14, 2012
It's important for people to organize to protect this bridge. PennDot has one of the nation's most anti-preservation records in the nation. This is my opinion but their demolition of historic spans is known far and wide in preservation circles.
Hon. Steven W Lindsey
state rep
Ches-3
Keene, NH
(And avid historic preservationist.)