Bridge Closing Worries Emergency Responders

Traveling in the lower end of Buckingham Township got a little tougher last week when Bucks County officials had to close the bridge on Street Road over Pidcock Creek.

The closure particularly concerns firefighters and other emergency responders because that was the bridge they were using while the Pineville Road bridge remained closed.

Township officials are worried, too.

"To emergency personnel, one closed bridge presents unacceptable response delays," Jon Forest, chairman of the township board of supervisors, said in a statement. "Two closed bridges cause delays that are a potential threat to life and property."

Built in 1954, the bridge on Street Road is a steel I-beam span 28 feet long. The one-lane bridge has been on PennDOT's list of structurally deficient bridges.

Bucks County, which owns and maintains the bridge, closed it last week after a routine inspection found further structural deterioration.

"The beams under the floor are deficient on the ends," said Joe Bush, director of special projects for the county.

Bush said Monday that the county is in the process of soliciting bids for the project, which he said they hope to finish in two to four months.

Midway Fire Company Chief Hugh Hager hopes it doesn't take longer than that.

"Our concern is that it will delay response time if there is a fire," Hager said Monday. "Unfortunately, the bridge shouldn’t have fire trucks on it unless there is a fire in that area because it’s only one lane."

The Pineville Road bridge has been closed since 2007 as township officials, residents and PennDOT continue legal discussions concerning its construction.

After input from residents, the township has worked with PennDOT to erect a bridge that keeps "in character with the pastoral surroundings" of the township, township manager Dana Cozza said last March.

Construction of the $1.2 million replacement Pineville Bridge was supposed to begin this fall.

But Forest said the project has been delayed by an objection lodged by neighbors in January to PennDOT’s taking of a "sliver" of their land for the construction. Buckingham officials have asked the couple to withdraw their objections, Forest said, but neither they nor their lawyer have responded.

As for Hager, he just hopes the county is correct that the Street Road/Pidcock Creek bridge will be fixed in a few months.

"I find that hard to believe," Hager said, adding he's "not sure if they can fix it that fast."

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