A neighborly collaboration has prevented Armstrong County residents from being denied easy access to their hospital and state police barracks.

Leslie Osche, Butler County commissioners chairwoman, told those in attendance at the Wednesday commissioners meeting that Kevin Gray of the Butler County planning department received a call last Friday from the planning department in neighboring Armstrong County.

Gray explained that Armstrong planners told him the state Department of Transportation had found deficiencies in a bridge that leads to Armstrong County Memorial Hospital and the Armstrong County State Police barracks.

PennDOT told Armstrong planning that the bridge would need to be fixed in seven days or could be closed down, Gray said.

“Armstrong County doesn't have a bridge crew,” Gray said.

Gray had the Armstrong planning team send him the information on the deficiencies to see if the Butler County bridge crew could fix it.

He discovered that the local bridge crew could make the repairs, and both sets of commissioners approved the move.

“My crew is out there today,” Gray said on Wednesday. “Hopefully everything will be done within the seven-day time frame.”

Osche praised Gray and the bridge crew for their willingness to jump in and help with the Armstrong bridge.

“You've worked with other municipalities as well,” Osche said to Gray.