Bridge closed for repair

Bridge closed for repair
MERCER, Pa. -- Porter Road Bridge on state Route 4006 (Porter Road) has been closed temporarily for emergency repairs. Eastbound traffic is being routed south on state Route 4005 (West Jameson Road/North High Street), east on state Route 18/358 (Main Street) and north on state Route 58 (North High Street/West Jamestown Road).
Westbound traffic is being rerounted south on state Route 58 (East Jamestown Road), west on state Route 18/358 (Main Street), and north on state Route 4005 (North High Street/West Jamestown Road.)
Boy injured by car
NEW CASTLE, Pa. -- A 6-year-old boy is in good condition in Pittsburgh Children's Hospital after running into the side mirror of a moving car. Witnesses told police that Corey Niles of Winslow Avenue ran into the street, following a woman who was getting into a car on the opposite side of Winslow Avenue at 4 p.m. Sunday. He ran out from behind a parked minivan and driver Heather Ables, 20, of Beckford Street was not able to see him coming, police said. No charges will be filed because there were no traffic violations, police said.
Pennsylvania-Americanasks PUC for increase
NEW CASTLE, Pa. -- People using Pennsylvania-American Water, including those in Lawrence and Beaver counties, might pay more for water next year.
Pennsylvania-American Water Company is asking the state utilities commission to allow the company to increase its water rates. If it's approved, it will mean about a $4.06 monthly increase for an average residential customer, the company said. A commercial business now paying $124.96 per month would pay an extra $18.08, and an industrial company paying $2,250.08 a month would get a $273.85 increase under the proposal, according to a news release.
Pennsylvania-American Water Company is regulated by the PUC and rates are established based on the actual cost of providing service. As part of the rate filing, Pennsylvania-American Water gave state officials a study that shows its service costs and what the company spent on improvements.
Company officials say the increases are needed because Pennsylvania-American has spent nearly $200 million since December of 1999 to replace and upgrade its facilities and infrastructure statewide.
The proposed increases could go into effect by January 2002, according to a Pennsylvania-American news release.
Tunnels face futureas hike, bike routes
BEDFORD, Pa. (AP) -- An abandoned tunnel on the Pennsylvania Turnpike could soon be the home of hikers and bikers.
The Turnpike Commission has agreed to sell the longest and shortest tunnels ever built on the 60-year-old toll road to the Southern Alleghenies Conservancy, which preserves land for communities and property owners. The turnpike has agreed to sell the tunnels in Bedford County, about 80 miles southeast of Pittsburgh, for $1.
The conservancy wants to turn the tunnels and abandoned highway into hike and bike trails with the help of groups such as Bicycle Pennsylvania, said Len Lichvar, executive director of the conservancy.
"We know we'll have to put some money into it," said Frank Long, chairman of the conservancy. "We know there has to be lighting in the tunnels."
The turnpike commission would help clean up the tunnels, patch and re-stripe the roadways, said Carl DeFebo, a turnpike spokesman.
DeFebo said it would be the first time the commission has turned over tunnels and highway to a nonprofit organization for any purpose.