Carrying us safely into town
In just over two years, the General Richard Butler Bridge will undergo a large-scale rehabilitation project.
In the Thursday edition of the Eagle, reporter Eddie Trizzino walked us through preliminary plans for improving the span that carries traffic over Connoquenessing Creek, Buffalo & Pittsburgh Railroad, Bessemer & Lake Erie Railroad, and Quarry Street.
Tina Gibbs, of the state Department of Transportation District 10, tells us the bridge has seen little in the way of crashes that would cause damage requiring major work. That the bridge has stood since 2006 and required little maintenance is a testament to the original construction.
“The bridge has held up pretty well for us,” she said
According to a PennDOT study, Pennsylvania has 1,267 bridges rated in poor condition, so it’s good to know the state is getting ahead of the curve in taking care of the bridge.
A well-maintained bridge doesn’t just happen. There will be grumbling about construction, which is expected to take about eight months to complete. Lanes will be closed. Traffic will back up. But to have one of the bridges listed in good condition, the work must happen.
“They will be flushing the drainage, doing some concrete repairs to the piers, some areas of the railing need to be replaced,” she said. “It will be full end-to-end work, but it will be focused on one part at a time.”
As you’re bounding around the county in your vehicle, you’re going to run into construction projects. Bridge repairs, efforts to widen roads, and water and sewer projects. These are necessary disruptions as the county grows and improves.
The General Richard Butler Bridge project won’t happen until 2026. As you’re driving through the construction of this or any project, think about what it’ll be when it’s finished, not what you’re late for now.
— RJ
