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Resident flags weight-restricted 'Pipe Bridge'; county planner says replacement on TIP with 2031 construction estimate
Summary
A Lawrence County campground owner asked commissioners to press PennDOT after lane reductions and weight limits made customers and vendors avoid a local bridge. Planning Director Amy McKinney said the bridge is on the 2027–2030 TIP and estimated replacement at about $2,185,000, with construction currently projected in 2031.
Fred Yager, a Rosepoint business owner, told the Lawrence County Board of Commissioners that a nearby span he called the “Pipe Bridge” has been downgraded to a single lane and lower load limits, causing campground customers and vendors to avoid crossing and threatening his business viability.
“Last year, it was reduced to 1 lane bridge… I have customers that are afraid to cross the bridge,” Yager said during the public-comment period, asking the board to use its connections with PennDOT to seek an earlier repair or replacement.
Amy McKinney, the county’s planning director, responded that the bridge has been placed on the county’s transportation improvement program (TIP). McKinney told commissioners the project is on the 2027–2030 TIP with federal funding for design and utilities and that “the actual construction is not set to take place until 2031.” She gave an estimated replacement cost of “about $2,185,000” and said the project appears eligible for Act 13 funding, which would reduce or eliminate a required local match.
Commissioners and staff explained legal and funding limits: county liquid-fuel and similar funds are restricted to county-owned bridges, and the board cannot reallocate those dollars to townships by law. The chair recommended that constituents contact state legislators for statutory flexibility and said the county would coordinate with township supervisors and PennDOT contacts to explore options to move the project forward.
The board did not adopt any immediate funding action during the meeting; staff said they would continue discussions with PennDOT and the township engineer and would notify Mr. Yager of any developments.
