Bradford Township officials are one step closer to a replacement of the bridge on Sleepy Hollow.
Supervisors voted in favor of widening the bridge during their regular meeting on Tuesday, which followed a brief meeting asking for public comment on the proposed widening.
During the comment session, Supervisor Chairman Jim Erwin explained the whole road would not be widened; there will just be a two-lane bridge with a two-lane approach.
A couple of Sleepy Hollow residents in attendance at Monday’s meeting took issue with the township’s plan to replace the bridge with a two-lane bridge without the iconic cover.
In March 2016, Bradford Township supervisors held a work session with Sleepy Hollow residents to discuss with them whether they wanted a covering for the bridge and whether they wanted a one- or two-lane bridge. At that time, an informal committee of Sleepy Hollow residents was formed to help make the decision.
In the 2016 meeting, officials indicated it would not be possible to keep the original cover or to have the township pay for a new cover, but they would design a bridge that could support a cover if Sleepy Hollow residents indicated they wanted to pay for a new one.
It was the road’s residents who paid the cost to cover the bridge when it was built.
On Monday, Supervisor Gayle Bauer explained that the committee decided not to make a cover.
“They talked about the cost, and came back and said ‘no cover,’” she said.
Gayle further explained that by now, the township has already spent the money for engineering and designing of the bridge, and changing now would double that cost.
Erwin noted a little later, “We have $85,000 in design and engineering so far.”
Meanwhile, Supervisor Steve Mascho talked to The Era after the meeting about why he did not support the decision to make the one-lane bridge into two lanes.
He explained there were extra costs associated with widening the bridge, such as easements, permits and “$6,300 just to cut the trees” — money that he said could have been used to fix other roads.
“The cost escalates to a very, very high cost,” said Mascho, who noted that road goes “into a neighborhood with 13 residents,” many of whom “loved that one-lane bridge because they loved the roof over it.”
During the comment session, supervisors indicated that they are waiting for permits from the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation before they can begin the bridge replacement.
“We’ve been waiting for a year,” Erwin said.
The project has already been bid out, with Swanson’s Fabrication building the structure and township employees completing the project.
The supervisors awarded a bid on Monday of $6,300 to 6V Excavation Demo & Tree Removal to cut and clean up tree at the Sleepy Hollow project site.
Erwin said that he called four companies altogether to get quotes for the project.
In other business, supervisors voted to advertise for sealed bids for 2,500 tons of AS-1 anti-skid, to be opened at the September meeting.
During the roads report, Erwin said a paving project on West Corydon Street from Clarks Lane to Munn Road is set to begin Aug. 22, with a rain date set of Aug. 28. He noted that the section of road will be closed while fabric is placed underneath the blacktop.
Erwin noted there are a couple of other streets with damaged sections that will be dug out soon so they do not become more damaged when the snow plows come out.
Township resident Vern Hart provided input at the meeting about a neighbor of his who he says is running an auto repair business at his home without a permit.
Township officials indicated there is as yet nothing they can do, as they have not been able to get proof.
Code enforcement officer George Corignani has talked to the alleged auto repairman, who told him he just fixes vehicles for friends without getting paid.
“Until you bring some kind of proof, like an invoice,” township officials won’t be able to do anything more, Erwin explained.
Under the police department report, Bauer said the township police completed 45 hours of traffic enforcement in a month.
Chief Robb Shipman noted that the department receives a grant almost every year for traffic enforcement of regulations such as speeding, careless driving and following too closely. He has received several complaints of motorists speeding or driving carelessly through construction zones.
“Keep in mind, it’s double the fine if you’re speeding through construction zones” due to the danger, said Shipman.
Bauer wondered about texting and driving.
Shipman said that while it’s not as easy to enforce, “If we see it, we can enforce it.”
He added, “I really wish they would go to a hands-free requirement in the state, but we don’t.”
