Repeated strikes prompt Tinicum supervisors to press PennDOT on bridge plans; residents seek historic review

Tinicum Township officials and residents pressed PennDOT and township staff for clearer plans after repeated truck strikes at Golden Pheasant Bridge and preliminary replacement work proposed for the Creary (Harpel) Bridge.

Chief Madden told the board the Golden Pheasant Bridge has been struck repeatedly by tractor‑trailers; a wing wall collapsed, forcing a months‑long closure, and PennDOT proposed a signal plan as a temporary solution. PennDOT's May 20 presentation, board members said, relied on a GIS-based study and not an on-the-ground survey; it outlined signal placements that would require easements on private property and recommended truck restrictions and signage updates. PennDOT also agreed to follow up with GPS-routing providers to prevent the route from appearing as accessible to large trucks.

"We've had a lot of increase in tractor trailers on River Road and so the Golden Pheasant Bridge had been struck multiple times over and over again," Chief Madden said, describing repeated post‑repair collisions.

Engineers and supervisors debated whether to file the township's GP-11 permit submission for the Headquarters Road Bridge before PennDOT finalizes easements and a formal agreement; staff said submitting prematurely could create permitting conflicts because existing permits in the project area differ from what PennDOT proposes. Kurt Jenner, township engineer, said structural engineer Doug Bond provided materials and finish details to address historical‑commission concerns but that final easement information and surveys remain outstanding.

Residents urged a more thorough historic assessment for the Creary (Harpel) Bridge replacement, noting the structure's rarity and significance to the Wild and Scenic River landscape. One commenter said the PennDOT presentation lacked specificity and that replacing multiple spans could require higher approaches and have large wetland impacts; she encouraged the board to request National Park Service consultation and a full Section 106 review.

Paul Coleman, a property owner adjacent to the Creary Road bridge, said neighbors were not contacted and warned that a standard PennDOT two-lane concrete replacement would change rural character and complicate farm equipment access. The board agreed to press for greater local outreach and more detailed field surveys before final design.

Township staff will follow up with PennDOT to request field surveys, definitive easement footprints and timetables for design milestones; the board also asked staff to track PennDOT's work so that any GP-11 permit submission aligns with final agreements to avoid permitting delays.