PennDOT to rehabilitate Brower’s Bridge

EAST NANTMEAL » Construction is scheduled to begin Feb. 22 on a project to rehabilitate Brower’s Bridge, a historic 117-yearold bridge carrying Mansion Road over the south branch of French Creek in Warwick and East Nantmeal townships, PennDOT announced.

Due to the nature of construction, Mansion Road will be closed and detoured around-the-clock between Reading Furnace Road/James Mill Road and Route 401 (Conestoga Road) beginning Monday, Feb. 22, through the completion of the project scheduled for late-May.

During the closure, Mansion Road motorists will be directed to use Route 401 (Conestoga Road), Route 345 (Bulltown Road), Route 23 (Ridge Road), Morningside Road and Reading Furnace Road. Local access will be maintained up to the construction zone.

During rehabilitation of the 25-foot-long and 15-foot-wide single-span stone arch bridge, PennDOT’s contractor will conserve the original plaque and brick frame on the structure, which is listed with the National Register of Historic Places and part of the Reading Furnace Historic District. Other improvements to the bridge include, masonry cleaning, repointing, scour protection and milling and paving of the roadway.

Work on this project will be in accordance with Centers for Disease Control and state Department of Health guidance as well as a project-specific COVID-19 safety plan, which will include protocols for social distancing, use of face coverings, personal and job-site cleaning protocols, management of entries to the job site, special signage and relevant training.

SUBMITTED PHOTO Brower’s Bridge in East Nantmeal and Warwick townships will be upgraded by the state.