Funds for pedestrian bridge secured
The new D & L pedestrian bridge remains closed until a retaining wall and trail connection can be added. BOB FORD/TIMES NEWS
Pedestrians use the new bridge in Jim Thorpe Monday morning after members of the Rails-to-Trails Conservancy’s 2018 Pennsylvania Sojourn come across. BOB FORD/TIMES NEWS
The more than a half-million dollars needed to finish a pedestrian bridge project in Jim Thorpe has been secured, representatives from the Delaware & Lehigh National Heritage Corridor said Thursday night.
Speaking to Jim Thorpe Borough Council at the municipality’s monthly workshop, D&L Executive Director Elissa Garofalo said the added money includes $500,000 from the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources in the form of a grant amendment, and $65,286 in a hotel tax funds disbursement from the Pocono Mountain Visitors Bureau.
“All of the funds have now been committed and we’re hopeful that at the borough meeting next week, council will award the bid for the remainder of the work,” Trail and Stewardship Manager Lauren Golden said.
That work includes construction of a retaining wall and trail connection on its east side near the Jim Thorpe wastewater treatment plant.
Jim Thorpe Borough Council has been a pass-through agency for a portion of the bridge’s grant funding.
On Thursday night, Council President Greg Strubinger expressed his disappointment that the borough was not receiving any kind of reimbursement for grant administration costs.
“Back when this was discussed, council was under the impression this was going to be at no cost to the borough,” Strubinger said. “With our limited resources, we have to be responsible and our staff is very strained as it is.”
Garofalo said the borough manager’s work would have been the only out-of-pocket cost for Jim Thorpe and that no agencies, including the D&L, get a reimbursement for administrative costs.
“Other communities smaller than Jim Thorpe have been willing to take on that small cost because they recognize the value of the investment,” she said.
The bridge is a 200-foot through-truss bridge built in Alabama with American steel.
It will create a 57-mile continuous stretch from Glen Summit, Luzerne County, to Cementon, Lehigh County.
The bridge opened briefly for a first crossing and dedication ceremony in June before closing again several hours later, pending completion of the project.
“I think at this point we need to move forward,” Borough Manager Maureen Sterner said. “They got the grant money and we need to move forward.”
Councilman Jay Miller agreed, saying funding had been the only holdup for him.
“We have the money so I’m fine,” he said. “I said I would never approve anything until the funds were guaranteed, and now they are.”
Comments
That's what government does with our money.
I'm surprised the funding was approved this fast. I can think of two (2) reasons. 1). it is an election year and no one running for elected office wants to explain a 4.5 million dollar bridge that is closed for use by the tax payers. Or 2). a miracle has taken place right before our eyes. I'm going with #2. How else do you explain 565,286.00 bux just sitting around for the asking? No one saw the need for an extra half million dollars but once the bids said otherwise they money simply fell out of the sky.
From the above article: “Other communities smaller than Jim Thorpe have been willing to take on that small cost because they recognize the value of the investment,” she (D&L Executive Director Elissa Garofalo) said. TRANSLATION: You rubes in JT should rejoice at having your betters stepping in and doing things in your best interest.
It should not be forgotten by anyone that the bridge project is as of this point in time almost 2 years behind schedule and over 1 million dollars over budget. The funding, all of it, has as it's ultimate source the tax payers. Even today, the intrepid adventurer who ambulates to the end of the canal will find a D&L sign at the waste treatment plant that states that the project will begin January 2017 and complete January 2018. Here we are 8 months after the complete date and now have funding to complete the project. That is unless some other unforseen force of nature pops up requiring even more money to satisfy those who have our backs.
Fun Fact: The bridge is a 200 (or 250) -foot through-truss bridge built in Alabama with American steel. I thought I would just mention it just in the off chance you didn't hear it the first 200 to 250 times it's been reported.