ZELIENOPLE — A bridge replacement project in the borough now will include sidewalks, much to the pleasure of officials who have long hoped to expand foot traffic farther down Main Street.

The state Department of Transportation notified the borough recently that it plans to include sidewalks on both sides of the bridge. PennDOT is expected to begin the project on Route 68 over Glade Run in June.

Eager to increase foot traffic to and from Timberbrook, a housing development off Route 68, and to other destinations south of the bridge, borough officials petitioned PennDOT to include sidewalks in the plan.

Borough manager Don Pepe said the bridge replacement is a good opportunity to address the lack of sidewalks in that area.

“We have been envisioning running sidewalks along Route 68 to attach other destinations to the Main Street area,” Pepe said. “To do that we needed the sidewalks to extend through the bridge.”

Pepe said he is glad to see the state agree with the borough’s request.

“We weren’t sure when we made the pitch,” he said, “but I’m glad to see that they were able to work it out.”

To accommodate the sidewalks, which will be raised off the bridge surface, the width of the road will be reduced by a few feet on each side.