Bushkill Bridge Demolition Delayed due to Red Tape

The closed , connecting Main Street in Tatamy and Uhler Road in Forks Township was supposed to be torn down in August, but red tape still keeps it standing.

A new bridge will be built in its place, but a construction official said work likely won't begin until late September or early October.

Greg DeNardo, president of Bi-State Construction in Easton, said two factors are postponing the demolition of the bridge. The first problem is that UGI is waiting to receive a stream-crossing permit from the state Department of Environmental Protection. The permit would allow them to move a gas line out of the area of the bridge.

"I know everyone is anxious to get that bridge work done, but the structure is supporting the UGI line," DeNardo said. "We're hoping to start in late September or early October."

Dan Adamo, director of business development for UGI, said the permit was submitted to DEP on July 1. So far, the company hasn't heard anything, he said. It can take up to three months to hear back, depending on how many applications the department has to process.

Once UGI receives the permit, it will take about two to three weeks to move the gas line, Adamo said.

Currently, the line is attached to the bridge. UGI plans to directional drill on the north side of and run the line beneath the water, he said.

The second problem concerns property easements. DeNardo explained that there were four easements needed to allow for construction equipment to work in the area and for a larger bridge to be built. Three of the easements have been signed by the landowners, but one remains.

Tatamy council president Christopher Moren said, "As far as the borough, I signed all of the papers."

The last one to sign is Gary Ickowicz of New York City, who owns the property on which Equipto sits. He has decided to get an independent appraisal of the land, DeNardo said.

The new bridge is designed to be 195 feet long and 42.5 feet wide, said state Department of Transportation spokesman Ron Young. The current bridge is 189 feet long and 22 feet wide. Both bridges are for two lanes. The new bridge was slated to be completed by the fall of 2012.

Once an agreement over the final easement is reached, then Bi-State will submit the papers to PennDOT, DeNardo said. The state has 35 to 45 days to make payment to the property owners for the easements.

The bridge was closed when a large hole punched through the decking in May. It is the second bridge in Tatamy to be closed. In 2002, a bridge spanning Bushkill Creek and connecting Eighth Street in Tatamy and a small portion of Palmer Township with Stockertown collapsed. A bridge support fell into a sinkhole. This bridge was  removed and PennDOT has decided not to replace it, Young said.