Politics & Government
New Weight Restrictions Coming for Hatfield, Towamencin Bridges
Due to uncertainty of future state transportation funding for bridge repairs, PennDOT is reducing or posting new weight restrictions on deteriorating bridges.
Two bridges in the North Penn area will be posted with new or lowered weight restrictions soon to improve safety and lessen rates of deterioration.
The bridge on Orvilla Road spanning Neshaminy Creek in Hatfield Township will be posted at 32 tons.
The bridge on Old Forty Foot Road over Skippack Creek, which is located in Towamencin and Lower Salford townships, will be lowered to 19 tons from its current weight limit at 26 tons.
These are just two of 63 state-owned bridges in the five-county area to be affected by new Pennsylvania Department of Transportation safety mandates.
All in all, there are more than 1,000 structurally-deficient bridges in Pennsylvania, according to PennDOT secretary Barry Schoch.
The new restrictions will also affect 48 county- or municipal-owned bridges in the five-county region.
PennDOT is posting new weight restrictions or reducing restrictions to extend the life of deteriorating bridges as a temporary solution, since it is uncertain if the state legislature will provide transportation funding to repair or replace these bridges.
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