Tuesday, September 28, 2004
SHARON, Pa. -- A Pennsylvania Department of Transportation bridge repair crew has made some improvements to allow the State Street Bridge over the Shenango River maintain its 15-ton weight limit.
The crew worked on the three-lane, open-grate bridge Monday, welding some plates to strengthen metal beams beneath the deck.
Mayor David O. Ryan said PennDOT had promised to make the repairs after a July inspection of the structure, built in 1916.
The bridge was supposed to be replaced in 2005 but the state said that date has been moved back to 2008, prompting expressions of concern from city officials and business people who feel the weight limit is restricting business because of safety concerns.
City police have nabbed a number of tractor-trailers that have crossed the structure despite exceeding the posted weight limit. Fines have ranged as high as $12,000, based on the weight of the trucks.
The bridge had no weight limits until a June 2001 state inspection showed some serious deterioration to beams supporting the structure.
The state put a 5-ton limit on the vehicle using the bridge until some repairs were made and the limit was then increased to 15 tons.
The sidewalks on both sides of the bridge are in poor repair and frequently sport holes in their pavement and concrete surfaces.
Repairing those holes falls to the city, not PennDOT, Ryan said.