Save the Bridge, Boro Urges

NEWTOWN BOROUGH, Pa. -- There’s a lot of traffic these days on the historic Centre Avenue Bridge here – not vehicular congestion, but dialogue over repairs to the 1796 bridge damaged in a car accident.

Newtown Borough council recently said it would urge the state Transportation Department, owner of the bridge, to make repairs according to historic standards, a prior issue. In 2012, the borough joined with others to stop PennDOT from replacing the bridge.

Council’s resolution this time – to be included with a letter from the Newtown Creek Coalition -- urges PennDOT to hire an expert in historic restoration to make necessary repairs to the stone span.

“As it is one of the most historic bridges in the Commonwealth, any repairs by PennDOT must protect that history,” the Newtown Creek Coalition said in the letter to PennDOT, as well as to state Sen. Steve Santarsiero, state Rep. Perry Warren and Newtown Township officials. “This is of particular concern given the controversy some years ago when PennDOT attempted to replace the bridge and when unsuccessfully performed a repointing that was not according to historic restoration standards.”

Damage to the bridge occurred when a car last month struck a bridge stonewall, causing it to collapse near a pedestrian walkway.

Borough officials felt it imperative to contact PennDOT.

“PennDOT has made noise like they understand that it’s historic, but this is the same agency that wanted to completely dismantle the bridge and replace it with a modern bridge in 2012,” said Julia Woldorf, council member. “Having the letters sent will be very helpful.”

Newtown Borough in 2012 joined forces with Newtown Township, the Creek Coalition, the Newtown Historic Association and First National Bank to successfully prevent PennDOT from replacing the bridge.

“I’m happy to move forward with a letter and a resolution, and we will go from there,” said Emily Heinz, council president. “I just want to make it very clear that this bridge needs to be protected.”

(What would you do if you were PennDOT?)

Centre Avenue Bridge needs repairs.Photo byChittima StanmoreonUnsplash