Jackson Township imposes 10-ton weight limit on S. Ramona Rd. bridge

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The Jackson Township Board of Supervisors voted on Sept. 15 to impose a temporary 10-ton weight limit on the South Ramona Road bridge following an inspection that raised some concerns.

Engineer Stephen Sherk said this is out of an abundance of caution while the township waits to receive the full report.

Supervisors approved the initial inspection costing $4,335 at their Aug. 18 meeting. Officials said the bridge hadn’t been inspected since 2001, but has handled more heavy wear since the detour around the Route 501 bridge over Tulpehocken Creek in Myerstown Borough began on June 23. The bridge’s tentative reopening date is Oct. 20.

Read More: Jackson Twp. to inspect South Ramona Road bridge for the first time since 2001

Though the approved detour doesn’t include the South Ramona Road bridge, large trucks have used the route anyway. Sherk said in August that the bridge is a smaller-span bridge and not subject to the routine inspections that other bridges throughout the county receive. He said road crews noted a few concerns, which led to their decision to hire inspectors.

In the preliminary report, he said Wilson Consulting Group noted some bulging along one of the bridge’s wing walls.

“The township was previously aware of this,” Sherk said. “But until that wing wall is fixed, they’re recommending the bridge be posted by Oct. 8.”

He said Wilson included a posted signage map that recommended the township place signs notating the change at three locations near the bridge. The township is looking to place orders for the signs immediately, and they expect them to arrive within the next week.

Officials said they will inform the Pennsylvania State Police of the weight limit so they can enforce it.

Supervisor Michael Dunkle said there will be exemptions for emergency vehicles and anyone who “has to get in there.” Fellow supervisor Thomas Morrissey said the bridge is still safe, but they want to keep the condition from worsening.

“It’s not that it’s unsafe, it’s just we don’t want to deteriorate the condition of it further,” Morrissey said. “It’s not like it’s going to collapse, but we don’t want to deteriorate it further by putting heavy traffic over there constantly. There’s no risk of any catastrophe.”

Dunkle said once they receive the full report, they’ll know what the township will have to do to bring the bridge up to par.

In other business, supervisors:

• Heard an update from Joel Zinn about the Myerstown Heritage Center & Museum. Zinn brought brochures for attendees and said they’re planning to open on July 4, 2026.
• Received a $1,000 fine from the damage prevention supervisors for not contacting them after taking action. Supervisors voted to pay the fine out of the sewer revenue account.
• Voted to purchase two overhead garage door openers for bay doors 9 and 10 for $1,710.90 each, making it a total of $3,421.80.
• Voted to run a wire overhead at the Wintersville Road traffic signal that the township is upgrading for an additional $4,467.50.

Jackson Township supervisors will meet next at 60 N. Ramona Road on Oct. 6 at 7:30 p.m.