Butler City Council voted on Thursday, May 29, to invest just shy of $149,000 in repairs to the South Monroe Street bridge to keep it operational until PennDOT can replace it.

Council unanimously selected C.H. & D. Enterprises and rejected bids from two alternates at the meeting. Councilman Troy Douthett said the board received “three or four” total bids on the project.

According to a PennDOT spring outreach meeting presentation, the bridge is slated to receive a full replacement at an estimated cost range of $5 million to $7.5 million in 2029. However, costs related to more immediate repairs fall onto the shoulders of the city.

Council was prepared for this, as it previously slated $100,000 of the Butler Area Sewer Authority sale proceeds toward the repairs in its long-term plan, but bids ended up higher than the expected costs.

The bridge will be resurfaced and receive structural repairs.

“The top of the bridge is busted up pretty good, so they have to go through and dig down into good material and then build it back up again,” Douthett explained.

Council was not able to offer a timeline of repairs or closures related to the bridge at the meeting.

Council also approved the purchase of a 2025 Ford F-550 from McCandless Ford for just over $60,000 using liquid fuels tax funds.

It will replace a 2008 model currently in use by the city streets department. Before it hits the road, a separate vote will be needed to approve upfitting costs.

“You get the truck, and then you pay about the same amount to put in the bed and the salt spreader,” Douthett said. “We have one we’re supposed to have back in a few weeks that’s finally being fitted and then we’ll have to fit this one.”

Douthett said he hopes the streets department will be able to use the vehicle this coming winter.