How are the Bridges Doing in the Nazareth Area?

By now, you have may have read -- or at least heard about -- the report by the group Tranportation For America that says Pennsylvania has the worst bridges in the country.

More than 25 percent of our bridges are "structurally deficient," including 12 in the Nazareth area, meaning they require significant maintenance, repair or replacement, the report says.  It does not necessarily mean the bridge is unsafe, TFA says.

Sean Brown, a district press officer for the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation, stressed that fact.

"Just because a bridge is 'SD' does not mean it’s not safe," he said.  "We would not keep a bridge open if we felt it was unsafe for travel."

A total of 12 bridges in the Nazareth area are considered “structurally deficient.” Not all of these bridges have project start dates, but there's a reason for that, according to Brown.

"There is a lot of bridge work being done in Northampton County, but it's just not feasible to have all of these bridges being worked on at the same time," he said. "It’s a huge amount of work and each bridge can cost millions of dollars."

"Structurally deficient" bridges in the Nazareth area:

“SD” Bridges in Nazareth

• The bridge over the abandoned Conrail line on S. Broad Street (Route 191), before the S. Broad Street and Easton Road (Route 248) intersection.  According to Brown, the bridge will be fully replaced and the project start date is 2012.

“SD” Bridges in Upper Nazareth Township

• The east bridge over the Monocacy Creek on W. St. Elmo Street.  According to Brown, there is currently no project start date.

“SD” Bridges in Lower Nazareth Township

• The Route 191 bridge over the Monocacy Creek.  According to Young, this bridge is a “design build,” which means the bridge will be worked on while the design process continues.  The project start date is late summer or early fall 2011, according to Brown.
• The bridge on Newburg Road at Georgetown Road over the tributary to the Monocacy Creek.  According to Brown, there is currently no project start date.

“SD” Bridges in Stockertown

• The Route 33 northbound bridge over the Bushkill Creek.
• The Route 33 southbound bridge over the Bushkill Creek.

** PennDOT workers survey the and approaches over the Bushkill Creek once every two weeks, according to PennDOT district press officer Ron Young.

“SD” Bridges in Tatamy

• The bridge over the Bushkill Creek that connects Main Street and Uhler Road.  This bridge is currently posted – only 18 single tons and only 25 combined tons are allowed over this bridge.  PennDOT has targeted a late summer or early fall 2011 .  Young said that once the work is started, the project should be completed by late fall 2012. The bridge project will cost about $2.7 million, he said.

“SD” Bridges in Plainfield Township

• The bridge over Route 33 on Kromer Road.  This bridge was damaged after a recreation vehicle caught fire and stopped under the bridge.  Vehicles three tons and under are allowed over this bridge, which is down to one lane. According to Brown, there is currently no project start date.

"SD" Bridges in Bushkill Township

• The bridge on Moorestown Road (Route 512) at Heyer Road over the Bushkill Creek. According to Brown, there is currently no project start date.
• The bridge on Bushkill Drive over the tributary to the Bushkill Creek. According to Brown, there is currently no project start date.
• The bridge over the Bushkill Creek at the .  According to Brown, there is currently no project start date.
• The bridge on Mountain Road over Horn Creek. According to Brown, there is currently no project start date.