PennDOT Puts Weight Limits on 1,000 Bridges

Written by Tom Coombe

The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation has put new or increased weight limits on 1,000 bridges around the state, a move PennDOT says it’s making because of “legislative inaction” on transportation funding.

The restrictions, announced Thursday, apply to 530 state owned and 470 locally-owned bridges.

The historic Meadows Road Bridge, which spans the Saucon Creek in Lower Saucon Township near Route 412, is included on the list of bridges that will receive new restrictions or have their current weight limits lowered.

Built in 1858, the Meadows Road Bridge is county-controlled.

"For months I've been explaining to Pennsylvanians and to lawmakers that there are very real consequences to not enacting a transportation funding plan," PennDOT Secretary Barry Schoch in a news release. "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."

PennDOT says the new restrictions will move Pennsylvania from 35th to 27th on the list of states with bridges that are posted as structurally deficient or closed. 

The state already leads the nation in structurally deficient bridges.

The state will begin posting bridges with weight limits next week, but was expected to notify schools, emergency responders and other local officials on Thursday.

To find out what bridges are on the new list, visit www.dot.state.pa.us and click on "Bridge Information."

Photo: The historic Meadows Road Bridge spans the Saucon Creek in Lower Saucon Township (Patch file photo).