Carbon to contribute $95K to bridge replacement

Carbon County will contribute about 5 percent, or $95,000, toward the $1.9 million cost of replacing a Penn Forest Township bridge.

Commissioners on Thursday authorized the state Department of Transportation to manage the project and hire a consultant on behalf of the county.

In addition to the county’s share, another 80 percent of the replacement cost will be paid with federal money and the remaining 15 percent with state funds.

The county’s share will come from its liquid fuels account.

The span is a rolled steel I-beam bridge that carries North Old Stage Road over Mud Run. It currently has a 5-ton weight limit, and PennDOT rates it as in overall poor condition,” said Commissioner William J. O’Gurek.

“The fascia beams exhibit moderate rusting, approaches have partial hairline cracks, and the substructure is reinforced concrete that has vertical and horizontal cracks,” he said.

The county earlier paid $17,200 to Professional Construction Contractors Inc. of Bethlehem to make emergency beam repairs to the bridge.