MERCER COUNTY Hermitage officials discuss road project

One commissioner said the old bridge should be left in place for foot traffic.
By HAROLD GWIN
VINDICATOR SHARON BUREAU
HERMITAGE, Pa.-- City Commissioner Pat White doesn't want to see the state rebuild a section of Lamor Road that runs through the Pine Hollow Run ravine just west of Pa. Route 18.
"That's a scenic route down there," White said of the double S-curve that drops 75 feet into a narrow ravine, crosses Pine Hollow Run, and then climbs back out of the ravine.
The bridge over the creek is a narrow, two-lane roadway.
"I'm against the whole project," White said during a commissioners' workshop Thursday.
The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation could just widen the bridge to make it safer for truck traffic, he added.
PennDOT plans to raise the road elevation, straighten out the half-mile stretch of road and put in a new bridge in a $3 million project.
Commissioner Larry Gurrera doesn't oppose the project, but he would like PennDOT to leave the old bridge in place.
PennDOT has offered to do that, and is willing to leave both the east and west sides of the old road going into the ravine in place as well, provided the city takes responsibility for them.
City Manager Gary Hinkson said the city staff recommends that Hermitage keep both the road approaches to the bridge but have PennDOT remove the old bridge itself.
Results of study
The city had an engineering study done that showed the structure is deteriorating and it could cost up to $50,000 to restore it, he said.
The city needs the old road on the west side of the ravine for access to a sewer pump station at the bottom of the hill. The east side road would provide access to some sewer manholes as well as a proposed hiking trail along the bottom of the ravine, Hinkson said.
Gurrera said he visited the bridge and thinks it would be safe for foot traffic for another 40 years. White agreed, adding that it could be barricaded to prevent vehicles from crossing.
The board, which has only four members, appears to be evenly split on the issue.
Commissioner Duane Piccirilli said he would like to see the old bridge removed, based on the engineering report. Commissioner Sylvia Stull said she doesn't think leaving the old bridge intact is a good idea.
Hinkson said the issue will be on Thursday meeting's agenda for the board to make a decision about the bridge.