Lebanon City Council brings long-delayed bridge rehab project closer to reality

This article was funded by LebTown donors as part of our Civic Impact Reporting Project.

At its Tuesday, May 27, monthly meeting, Lebanon City Council passed a resolution authorizing Mayor Sherry Capello to commit an additional $9,000 of city funds to the proposed rebuilding of the North Lincoln Avenue bridge over the Quittapahilla Creek.

The total cost of the work has increased from $2,419,500 to $2,599,500, according to the mayor. The city has agreed to pay 5 percent of the total cost, making its share of the $180,000 increase $9,000. State and federal governments will pay the balance.

“The city has already committed to PennDOT to participate in this partnership,” Capello said. “We just wanted to be transparent with city council on the cost.”

The 22-foot concrete slab bridge was built in 1929. In 2024, the Federal Highway Administration said it carried about 2,500 vehicles daily, and rated its condition as “poor.”

The mayor noted that the project has been delayed twice, from 2024 and 2025. She expects bids to go out in March 2026.

Summer kids’ camps update

Also on the May agenda, director of administration and assistant to the mayor Melissa Quinones reported on the city’s four upcoming summer camps for kids. The first will be the perennially popular Nature Camp at Stoever’s Dam Park, which starts on June 23.

Read More: Lebanon city announces schedule for 2025 series of summer day camps

Other summer camps this year are Detective for a Day (July 9), Firefighter for a Day (July 23 and 29), and Recycling Ranger (Aug. 6).

All camps are limited to 30 participants and free to city kids. Non-resident children will pay a small admission fee. Full information, including enrollment instructions, can be found on the city’s web page.

Other business

• Capello reported that through April 30, with the budget year 33.33 percent complete, city revenues and expenses were at 35.5 percent and 27 percent, respectively, of annual budget projections.
• Capello informed council that she has reappointed Harriet Faren, Brad Longenecker, and James Snell to five-year terms on the city’s Housing Board of Appeals, effective May 1. They have served on the board since 2007, 2021, and 2002, respectively.
• Capello said she has reappointed city fire chief A.J. Sweitzer to the Housing Board of Appeals. The city’s fire chief automatically serves as an ex-oficio member.
• Lebanon Community Library executive director Michelle Hawk updated council on library operations, including the renovation of its 40-year-old restrooms, technology classes, and the upcoming “Go Lebanon” summer hiking and reading program. Hawk thanked the city for providing $37,000 of financial assistance to the library.

Read More: Keystone Grants fund ADA accessibility upgrades at Lebanon Community Library

June council meetings

Council’s next pre-council work session will be on Thursday, June 19, at 4:45 p.m. Council’s next regular monthly meeting will be on Monday, June 23, at 6:30 p.m. 

Work sessions and meetings are open to the public and held in the City Hall multi-purpose room, 735 Cumberland St., first floor, Lebanon. Meetings are also streamed live on the Lebanon PA City Council YouTube page.