EMPORIUM — A county-owned bridge closed following a recent inspection is causing lengthy delays for residents in Cameron County.
The bridge on Mason Hill Road over Sterling Run has been closed after failing a state inspection held earlier this month. Cameron County Commissioner Lori Reed said county officials have been working with engineers to develop a temporary fix that will allow the bridge to be safely reopened to traffic until construction on a new bridge can begin next year.
“Our number one concern right now is the safety of our residents,” Reed stated. “We are working to find a solution to keep that road open in the winter.”
The bridge was identified as having issues as early as 2008, with commissioners approving funds to repair it several times since then. Funds have been set aside from the budget in previous years to cover replacement costs, estimated at more than $500,000. Act 13 money will also be used, and the county will take out a loan to cover the remaining costs. A state grant is expected to cover a significant portion of the expenditure, but it is a reimbursement program, and so the county must pay for the costs and then wait to receive the funding sometime afterward.
Reed said the temporary option they would prefer is to be able to reinforce the bridge with steel beams to keep it open, if at a reduced weight limit, for residents through the winter. However, a temporary bridge can also be rented and erected. Work would be required prior to its installation to get the site ready for that type of structure.
Reed said they expected to hear back from engineers with options to address the situation early this week, and that officials have already been in contact with the Cameron County Conservation District (CCCD) to begin the process to secure an emergency permit to complete work near the stream this late in the year.
In the meantime, residents are having to take long routes into Emporium, increasing their commutes by up to an hour. If the bridge cannot be fixed this winter, it will be difficult for residents to travel as many of the dirt roads in the area that have to be accessed now that the more direct route is unavailable are steep and winding. While the bridge is located in Lumber Township, residents in Gibson Township have also been affected.
“People are stranded right now and we’re doing everything we can to address this,” Reed said. Her office has fielded a number of phone calls from residents since the bridge was marked closed. She stated that all bridge repair items mentioned in previous reports were completed, and that plans will stay in place for the full replacement to be completed in 2019.
Residents with questions or concerns can call the Cameron County Commissioners office at the courthouse in Emporium.
