TREMONT - The Union Street bridge could reopen in January after being closed to traffic for about eight years.
Gerald Fasnacht, a Tremont borough councilman and code enforcement officer, said Friday that the borough-owned bridge could open in two weeks, weather permitting.
Its reopening is also thanks to a joint effort by borough officials and area businesses.
Build in 1950, the bridge that runs over Middle Creek closed because PennDOT determined it was not suitable for use.
Efforts have been made over the years to fix the bridge. Previously, U.S. Rep. Tim Holden, D-17, secured $400,000 for the bridge, but due to PennDOT construction regulations, that money was not used because it would require too much of a contribution by the borough, officials have said.
Work on the precast concrete deck with steel girder bridge began about three weeks ago, Fasnacht said, noting that while costs are not finalized, they could come in at $23,000.
When completed, the bridge will support 15 tons, which is enough to support vehicles like a school bus or emergency vehicles, council President Bob Donmoyer said.
Project manager Thomas Schreffler, P.E., with Light-Heigel & Associates Inc., Schuylkill Haven, said work on the bridge involves two phases. One required putting a concrete scour wall along the bottom of the bridge on the north face and installing concrete pilasters or vertical columns that support the 24 beams under the bridge. Schreffler said the creek was eroding the bridge.
The second phase required replacing or repairing the steel beams.
On Friday, one of the beams was leaning and an area of the beam was clearly rusted. Fasnacht said three of the beams were replaced with new steel and six more were repaired.
"We're going to maintain this bridge," he said. "We're not going to let it get to the point where we have to come in and rebuild it again."
Fasnacht said he paid $18,500 for the concrete work for the bridge, done by Steve Franz, Pine Grove.
Borough workers, Fasnacht and James Kintzel of Kintzel Portable Welding and Fabricating, Pine Grove, also did work on the bridge.
Donmoyer confirmed Fasnacht paid for a portion of the work.
Donmoyer said the final cost could come in at $30,000. Of that, about $7,000, which was a reduced rate, was engineering work by Light-Heigel & Associates Inc.
The effort to open the bridge to vehicular traffic is a joint one by many, Fasnacht said.
For example, Butch Kreiser, Lebanon, donated the steel. Kreiser has a store in the borough.
Solicitor Christopher Hobbs donated his time for legal matters and even Newswanger's Lawn and Garden, Pine Grove, helped by fixing a piece of equipment for free, Fasnacht said.
Robert Donmoyer, owner of Donmoyer's V Service, 29 Union St., on the other side of the bridge, said the opening of the bridge could increase business to his shop. He's been at the location for 44 years.
Jessie Clark, 23, also lives near the closed bridge. She lives at 18 Union St. and said she would welcome the bridge's opening. It was an inconvenience at first when the bridge closed, she said.
Getting in her car she, had to turn around to go toward East Union Street because of the bridge closure.
"It will be a lot more convenient," she said.
"With this refurbishing work, this bridge should last at least 25 years," Schreffler said.