North Cornwall Twp. moves forward with Walden Road bridge replacement plans

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

North Cornwall Township continued to discuss the future replacement of the Walden Road bridge over Snitz Creek at its meeting Tuesday.

Earlier this month, North Cornwall Township engineer Steve Sherk estimated the cost for replacement at $400,000, noting the estimate was subject to change as he looked into the topic further.

Read More: North Cornwall Township plans to replace Walden Road bridge

Sherk explained Tuesday that he did not feel it would be worth it to raise the grade of the bridge, which is fairly close to the water below and tends to flood during heavy rainfall. This would change the permitting required for the project, increase overall costs, and not be warranted on a low-traffic road, Sherk said.

“My suggestion was: replace the pipes, fire sticks, whatever it is with a low-profile box culvert,” he explained. “We don’t raise the road, neck elevation, and we can receive a general permit.”

Sherk explained that he plans to undergo a survey to give better cost estimates for the project.

Earlier this month, chairman Mike Wahmann said the bridge has been in need of replacement for at least 20 years, and complained that the pipes now used to handle water flow frequently need township staff attention due to debris blockages.

In other news, supervisors:

• Unanimously approved a change order of $4,880 for the Motorcycle Club improvements project, in order to cover all of the parking area’s surface rather than around 90 percent. The township is taking on costs for the project in exchange for a right of way needed for the impending 22nd Street bridge relocation project.

Read More: Federal Highway Administration bridges funding gap for 22nd St., rail trail project

• Unanimously approved a $455,060.82 payment for work completed on the new Dairy Road Pump Station Project by JEV Construction. Costs for the project will be split between North and West Cornwall townships and Cornwall and Cleona boroughs, who all use the station. Supervisors also unanimously approved a $5,972.38 change order for the project, to add additional beams to the platform holding the generator.

Read More: North Cornwall Township accepts Dairy Road Pump Station Replacement bids (2024)

• Unanimously acknowledged the mimimum municipal obligation for the 2026 non-uniform pension plan at $56,104, to be accounted for as next year’s budget is finalized.
• Unanimously approved a $112,792 letter of credit reduction for the North Cornwall Commons Phase 2 sanitary sewer plan and a $120,717.39 reduction to the project’s site improvements plan.
• Unaniously approved a time extension for Eye Consultants of Lebanon.
• Unanimously agreed to approve a handicapped parking application at 1824 Chestnut St. after confirming that the applicant does not have suitable, accessible off-street parking.
• Heard fire department and police reports.
• Unanimously approved minutes.
• Heard that the township received a letter from the Lebanon County Agricultural Land Preservation Board thanking it for a $3,000 donation.

North Cornwall Township meets the first and third Tuesdays of the month. Meetings are open to the public and do not require prior registration.