Supervisors voted to move forward on a million dollar bridge replacement project. The bridge became structurally deficient after Hurricane Agnes in 1972. Since then the township, state and federal governments have spent more than $500,000 on engineering studies. Now neighbors say the project's not worth it.
East Earl Township residents stormed out of the township meeting after their supervisors voted to replace the Conestoga Creek Road Bridge.
Neighbor, Kathy Getz says, "It's an important part of East Earl, it's been here for more than 130 years so why do we have to take it away?"
Getz lives next to the bridge. She says not many drivers use it...an average of 15 vehicles cross it each day. So she questions the supervisors' motives.
Getz says, "They want to put developments on our road. I don't want to live in a development. I don't live in a city. I live in East Earl . I want it to stay the way it is."
Supervisor David Zimmerman says, "There's no plans. In all the lands close to the bridge are zoned agriculturally."
Zimmerman says the bridge needs to be replaced to $1.2 million. 95% will come from State and Federal funds. The township pays the rest. Zimmerman says the Township's already received around $500,000 in grant money.
Zimmerman says, "If we don't move forward finishing the bridge, then the grant money will need to be paid back."
Getz says, "We don't have the traffic to accommodate it, it's an ideal excuse of wasteful spending."
The bridge will have two lanes with 900 feet extensions at the approach and exits. It will be wider than the road. Neighbors are concerned it will lose its historic value, but that's not the case.
The PA Historical Museum Commission reviews bridge replacements. Spokesman Howard Pullman promises preservation of the bridge's historic value.
Pullman says, "The actual truss structure, the metal structure and that's going to be removed and moved to Central Penn College to use as part of a bridge there."
For more on Pennsylvania's Historic Bridges, click here.
The Documentary is provided courtesy of the PA Historical and Museum Commission.