Foster Township officials are aggressively fighting to have a temporary bridge built on Olean Road for emergency services, rather than having first responders take a detour during an anticipated summer project.

At a meeting held Monday evening, the supervisors approved submitting a letter to The Walsh Group of State College, the company overseeing the proposed project that is slated to begin in July and be completed in August. The bridge that runs over Pennbrook would be reconstructed.

In the letter, read by Supervisor chairman George Hocker during the meeting, township officials stated the township has no authority over that project since the work would take place on a state bridge and a state road.

“However, we have concern that the detour could pose a risk to township residents by causing a delay in the arrival of first responders in the event of an emergency. Many township residents who attended the public forums on the project share this concern,” the letter reads.

For the first two weeks of the planned bridge work, fire and ambulance crews would have to maneuver around the detour. Traffic would be re-routed from Olean Road to routes 346 and 546 in Pennsylvania and routes 45 and 16 in New York state

In the township’s view, the more appropriate method would be to construct a temporary bridge immediately adjacent to the reconstructed bridge. That would mean that the detour would not be needed and emergency response would not be delayed, township officials stated.

“Again, we understand that this is not a township decision, but we ask that the township’s concerns be taken into account as the final decision is made on this matter,” the letter stated. “Also, please be advised that, if the state’s decision remains to not use a temporary bridge and to establish a detour, the township assumes no liability that may result from the associated delay for the first responders who need access to the area in the event of an emergency.”

Hocker indicated that the main priority is the safety of the residents and to have easy response for emergency responders in the impacted areas.

This Pennsylvania Rapid Bridge Replacement Project, part of a $899 million public-private partnership, involves the replacement of 558 structurally-deficient bridges throughout Pennsylvania.

Also at the meeting,

• Police Lt. Michael Thomas reported that for the month of January, officers dealt with 164 complaints and 16 motor vehicle accidents, issued 30 citations and conducted eight criminal investigations;

• Accepted the resignation of Thomas Bromeley as a secretary of the township zoning board. He is being replaced by zoning board member Tina Phillips, the wife of township Supervisor Dale Phillips; and

• Approved advertising for sealed bids for various road repair projects that would be tackled this year.