State Street Bridge still down

Utility work is necessary first — water pipes and gas lines need attention

AVONDALE » Work is scheduled to resume soon on the State Street Bridge, which was closed for rebuilding on July 13 and then collapsed under the weight of a front end loader on Aug. 10.

Communications Coordinator for the Chester County Commissioners Rebecca Brain said the authorization to continue work was executed on Sept. 21 by the county, which has assumed responsibility for the repairs and funding.

Many people in the Avondale area have voiced concerns and frustration because there has not been visible work since that incident in August. Questions have been asked, “Why is it taking so long?” and “Are they just ignoring it?”

But Brain said a gap in the visible construction process was going to happen anyway, because the State Street Bridge has a complicated infrastructure that had to be dealt with before they continue building struts and pouring cement.

The bridge, which crosses the Indian Run close to the center of town, is located adjacent to a collection of vital feeder pipes and the borough sewage treatment plant. More importantly, the main that brings the borough’s water supply runs close and parallel, and a PECO gas main is there as well.

From the beginning, the construction plans included capping and replacing the gas line and moving the water pipe. The gas line capping was done, but subsequent to that operation, PECO determined that a temporary main was needed to maintain the current level of service to residents and, as such, will install a temporary gas main downstream within the next few weeks.

Additionally, the water line still has to be moved.

If there is a fortunate aspect to the to this almostyear-long operation, it is that no one was injured in the August collapse and that fluids did not leak from the fallen vehicle into the water, which would have prompted an environmental remediation process.

Borough officials have been aware of the bridge’s deficiencies for years. The weight restriction of five tons was placed on the bridge in 2009, and that meant heavy vehicles like school buses, mushroom trucks and fire trucks had to take detours on Ellicott Avenue or into West Grove. In the meantime, however, the Avondale

Fire Company gained permission to cross the bridge if the trucks stayed in the middle as they went over, Shore said.

Days after the Aug. 10 collapse, warnings were given to everyone to stay off the roadway even though a segment remained that traversed the stream from one bank to the other. Still, some people did walk across now and then.

Now, all of the beams, sidewalks, rails and deck have been removed. There is absolutely no connector between the two sides over the water.

The county press release said construction of the new bridge is expected to continue until winter, and opening is anticipated for mid-spring when temperatures allow for completion of the new approach roadways.

On Sept. 21, the county issued an update saying that the physical work on the site is minimal at this time as the county is concentrating on the relocation of the water service. It must be carefully relocated prior to further demolition and bridge reconstruction.

Authorization to proceed with the utility work was executed by the county on Sept. 21, and work will resume at the bridge within a week, the press release said.

CHRIS BARBER — DIGITAL FIRST MEDIA No bridge at all right now. All the beams and supports have been removed, and more work is scheduled to begin this week.