Bunker Hill (Mill Street) bridge closed after deck hole; borough, PennDOT outline temporary fixes and long-term replacement plan

A hole discovered in the deck of the Bunker Hill (Mill Street) bridge prompted borough officials to close the span and begin emergency assessments while PennDOT advances a long-term replacement plan.

"We did find approximately 1 foot long in the direction of traffic by about 3 foot wide in the transverse direction in the bridge," borough engineer Frank Summa said, describing the opening found near the south end of the structure. Summa said borough staff immediately closed the bridge and notified PennDOT and that initial short-term work will require milling the bituminous overlay to "do a proper sounding" of the underlying concrete.

The nut graf: The immediate goal is to shore up or temporarily repair the deck so emergency vehicles can pass where possible and to complete an underside inspection that will determine whether steel plating, concrete repair or another short-term fix is appropriate. Meanwhile, PennDOT is leading the federally funded replacement project, which Summa and Borough Manager Greg Wolff said remains on a multi-year schedule.

Summa said a contractor from a local construction company is available to meet as soon as the day after the meeting to provide cost estimates for milling and temporary repairs. He said the borough already has an underside inspection scheduled (coordination with the railroad for clearance) and aims to confirm proposed temporary repairs when that inspection occurs.

Wolff described the long-range timeline being driven by PennDOT's planning and environmental reviews. "We have been basically approved almost two years now for the replacement of the bridge," Wolff said, noting the funding split he expects: 80 percent federal, 15 percent state and 5 percent borough. He added that preliminary engineering and environmental clearance will take time and that contract letting is tentatively estimated for 2029, with construction likely to take about two years once started.

Residents pressed the borough about emergency access. "You can't get an ambulance," said Rosemary Santarsiero of Sand Street, citing prior incidents when responders had to detour. Fire Chief DeNaples and other officials said contingency routing and mutual aid are in place and that the borough is posting temporary parking controls to preserve emergency routes.

Next steps: Summa said the borough will pursue milling of the bituminous surface to assess concrete damage, confirm temporary repair options after an underside inspection and coordinate for PennDOT approval of any interim measures. PennDOT's consultant engineer is completing historical and environmental work; borough officials urged residents to contact state legislators to press for expedited timelines but warned the federal and state approval processes and environmental reviews will largely determine the schedule.

The borough will provide updates as assessments and short-term repairs proceed.