PennDOT announces virtual plans display for Salina Bridge project

The fire departments in Kiski and Bell townships are looking forward to PennDOT’s replacement of the historic Salina Bridge.

Bell Township Fire Company Chief Steven Master said the inability to use the current bridge adds 10 to 15 minutes to their route into the neighboring town during emergencies.

The new bridge will reduce their commute time to two minutes — something Master said is a relief for the fire department and Kiski and Bell township residents.

“I believe it’s a needed fix for the community,” Master said. “Time saves lives.”

Construction is expected to start next spring, and the new bridge is scheduled to be completed by fall 2026.

The existing bridge does not “meet today’s criteria,” according to Troy Pitts, PennDOT project manager. At barely 19 feet wide, it is less than the mandatory width of 28 feet, and its deteriorating steel can’t support the weight of vehicles heavier than 10 tons.

The weight limit is especially problematic for firefighters.

Bell Township’s fire truck weighs 20 tons — double the amount the existing Salina Bridge could handle.

When finished, PennDOT said the bridge will accommodate legal loads for vehicles over 10 tons, including fire trucks.

Built in 1906, the bridge was last rehabilitated in 1978.

Reconstruction plans for the Salina Bridge project have been in the works since February 2016, when PennDOT began to solicit consultants.

After metal sampling, cost comparisons and meetings with local people, PennDOT and the Federal Highway Administration decided that replacing the bridge with a modern span was the best option.

PennDOT presented plans for the Salina Bridge Replacement Project on May 31 at the Bell Township Fire Hall.

According to the plans, the new bridge will have two 11-foot lanes and two 5-foot shoulders on the bridge approach — making the bridge 32 feet wide. An improved intersection will be completed at each end of the bridge.

PennDOT said the project also will improve drainage throughout the reconstruction area and revamp the riding surface through the adjacent road.

An in-depth summary of the virtual plans for the “Route 1060 Salina Bridge Replacement Project” is available on PennDOT’s website and will remain posted through Wednesday. The site includes a form for comments.

PennDOT appreciates any and all feedback concerning the bridge’s replacement, Pitts said.

“We always like to give people the opportunity to comment or ask questions,” he said.

The bridge’s historical significance is a major reason for the company’s concern about public opinion, Pitts said.

The comment form also serves as an opportunity for the community to voice any concerns regarding the project’s potential impacts on the National Historic Preservation Act passed in 1966.

The act requires construction companies to acknowledge and preserve historical landmarks whenever possible. Because the bridge is eligible for listing on the National Register of Historic Places, PennDOT must take the act’s regulations into account.