At Least Three Pottstown-Area Bridges Get New Weight Restrictions To Stay Safe

Written by Community Editor Nicole Foulke

At least three Pottstown-area bridges will have new weight restrictions after PennDOT Secretary Barry J. Schoch authorized on Aug. 22 either the addition or increase of weight restrictions to approximately 1,000 Pennsylvania bridges deemed structurally-deficient bridges, according to a release from the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT).

The classification, with its purpose both to conserve the bridges and maintain safety, comes at a time when funding issues for the bridges are unresolved.

“For months I’ve been explaining to Pennsylvanians and to lawmakers that there are very real consequences to not enacting a transportation funding plan,” said Schoch. “Without additional revenues anticipated in the future, I have to make the safe and responsible decision to reduce how much weight is crossing these deteriorating bridges.”

The state-owned bridges with changed weight restrictions:

-Armand Hammer Boulevard over Norfolk Southern railroad tracks in Lower

Pottsgrove township and Pottstown borough, 32 tons.

-West King Street over Manatawny Creek in Pottstown borough, currently

posted for 32 tons will be reduced to 25 tons.

-Grosstown Road over Manatawny Creek in West Pottsgrove township, 36 tons.

Schoch’s decision administers the weight restrictions to about 470 locally-owned bridges, and 530 bridges that are owned by the state. To ensure motorist safety, PennDOT’s criteria regarding weight restriction is applied to all of the bridges.

Sixty-six state-owned bridges in the five-county Philadelphia region will be posted with new or lowered weight restrictions in order to slow the rate of decline of those bridges and ensure safety.

The restrictions will also apply on 48 county-owned and locally-owned bridges in the District 6 area that comprises Philadelphia and Bucks, Chester, Delaware and Montgomery counties.

Pennsylvania is the leader in the nation regarding the number of structurally-deficient bridges, having 4,479 such bridges. The state also ranks 35th in the country with the percent of structurally-deficient bridges that are closed or posted.  After the new restrictions are implemented, Pennsylvania will rank 27th in the country.

PennDOT is scheduled to begin posting bridges that have weight limits on Aug. 29. PennDOT will post on local bridges after they converse with the owners of local bridges to discuss the changes.

To learn more about weight restrictions and to see the bridges with new or lowered weight restrictions, click on www.dot.state.pa.us and then click on “Bridge Information.”