NORTH VANDERGRIFT — Officials in an Armstrong County township are feuding with the state Department of Transportation, which has no plans to replace a bridge that was wiped out by flooding from a hurricane 35 years ago.

"Residents in Parks have had a bridge out since 1972," said David Frickanisce, chairman of the Parks Township Planning Commission. "That's right, a bridge was washed out during Hurricane Agnes, and PennDOT has yet to replace it."

PennDOT has offered to replace the bridge if the township takes over maintenance on Stitts Run Road, which used to cross the creek.

The road, which carries about 650 vehicles a day, now dead ends on both sides of the creek — though motorists, rather than taking a seven-mile detour, typically drive across the shallow creek at a spot about 50 feet away from the former bridge.

"Motorists drive off the road, and we know that," said Penn-DOT spokesman Mark Hillwig. "We don't advise it, but at this point that is where it stands."

Hillwig said Parks Township could receive a $4,000 annual stipend from PennDOT to maintain the road if it opted to participate in PennDOT's Turn Back Program. Township officials, however, say it's not worth it.

"The state tarred and chipped the road, but the condition is not good because it washes out," said township Supervisor Paul Durincik.

PennDOT's district bridge engineer Jim Andrews said the agency has no record of the bridge, because it did not start inspecting state bridges until the late 1970s.

Because there is little traffic on the road, the bridge will likely remain a low priority, he said.