Shohola favors bridge replacement

By TOM KANE

SHOHOLA, PA — The Shohola Township Board sent a letter to PennDOT Engineering, explaining the urgency of constructing a new Pond Eddy Bridge. The action came at the board monthly meeting on July 14.

“Now it appears obvious that the existing bridge cannot be upgraded to allow fire trucks, septic trucks, oil trucks, fire trucks and similar heavy vehicles. At a June 29 meeting to discuss the bridge’s future, the consultant’s concept of a new bridge, as opposed to repairing the existing bridge, received overwhelming support,” the letter said.

A group of Pond Eddy residents led by Highland Planning Board member, Richard Plunz, oppose the replacement of the historic bridge.

“Let’s recognize that the Milanville and Dingmans bridges are of similar rating, and serve much greater needs just fine,” Plunz said.

Fluhr requested that PennDOT hold quarterly meetings to facilitate further opportunities for public input and information exchanges as per the Section 106 process.

“We would hope that a satisfactory mitigation project would in some measure satisfy those who wanted to preserve the bridge,” Fluhr said.

Other highway concerns

The Fluhr letter also reminded PennDOT of the landslide that closed a section of the Twin Lakes Road during Hurricane Ivan and the need to have the roadway fully opened. PennDOT does not plan to remedy the road for at least a year or two, according to state officials.