NEW CASTLE Coverts Crossing bridge set to open

The new span is higher and should not have to close as often from flooding.
BY MARY GRZEBIENIAK
VINDICATOR CORRESPONDENT
NEW CASTLE -- The newly constructed bridge at Coverts Crossing is expected to open this week. The old bridge, which served as a link between Union and North Beaver townships, closed Jan. 6.
If the bridge passes a final inspection scheduled for Thursday, it will be opened to traffic.
Bill Humphrey of Frank B. Taylor Engineering, who supervised construction, said the original estimate of a Sept. 22 completion date was missed because the area around the bridge was flooded from July 22 to Aug. 30.
He said that the new bridge, while not immune to the frequent flooding in the area, is 3 to 4 feet higher than the old bridge and will not have to close as frequently when the Mahoning River is high.
In addition, the new bridge is west of the old bridge, eliminating the sharp curve that motorists coming from the south had to negotiate. The formerly unguarded railroad crossing on the south end also now has an automatic signal.
Structural features
The new structure is a 30-foot-wide, two-lane precast concrete bridge with a skid-resistant deck. It has two abutments on each end and two piers in the river. Humphrey said it is similar to the new bridge at state Routes 18 and 108 near Mahoningtown.
He said the picturesque old one-lane bridge was removed because of "liability issues." However, historical recordation was done of the structure, and the information has been placed in museums and local libraries.
Before bridge construction, remains of a significant 1,000-year-old American Indian site were discovered at the north end of the old bridge. This delayed the construction for months while archaeologists searched for artifacts.
The new bridge was built with 80-percent federal and 20-percent state funds.