The replacement of the South 22nd Street bridge, initially planned for a 2024 start to construction, is now expected to begin in 2026.
The project was delayed for two reasons, North Cornwall Township manager and public works director Justin Thompson said in an email.
“The project was delayed due to the completion of phase 6B of the LVRT (Lebanon Valley Rail Trail) and availability of project funds,” he said. “A one-year gap was always planned between the completion of phase 6B and the start of phase 6C.”
The rail trail will cross the completed bridge, and as of October 2023 phase 6B was expected to be completed this spring.
However, at that time, construction on the bridge was still expected to begin this year.
Read More: Lebanon Valley Rail Trail set for completion in 2027
Funding for the estimated $3.6 million multi-modal transportation project will be provided through a combination of PennDOT, Lebanon County, the LVRT, and North Cornwall Township, Thompson said.
With the project being pushed back, PennDOT is looking to apply for additional funding through the Department of Transportation Carbon Program.
The LVRT received a $1.3 million Bipartisan Infrastructure Law grant in 2022, some of which is being contributed to the bridge replacement.
While the current 59-foot bridge, constructed in the 1930s, does not have a sidewalk, the planned replacement includes a 10-foot-wide sidewalk on the bridge’s west side.
This walkway will ultimately connect phase 6B and future phase 6D of the LVRT.
The bridge, aligning with an existing part of 22nd Street, will create a four-way intersection “that will be easier for motorists to navigate,” said Thompson.
While the bridge replacement project has been pushed back until 2026, the township hopes to start the Motorcycle Club improvements earlier so it is completed by the time work on the bridge starts.
The township agreed to pay for Motorcycle Club improvements including parking spaces, a driveway, and a gate in exchange for the acquisition of a piece of property needed as a right-of-way, Thompson said.
LebTown is now covering North Cornwall Township as part of our Civic Impact Reporting Project.
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