WASHINGTON: It will take another year, but motorists who can’t use the weight-restricted Center Avenue Bridge in Emsworth will finally get some relief.
The Port Authority, which owns the bridge, has awarded a $3.65 million contract to Mosites Construction Co. to rehabilitate the bridge. The project, which will include replacing the concrete deck, repairing or replacing structural steel and painting, is expected to start in December or early next year and be finished by the end of next year. For Emsworth Mayor Dee Quinn, the work can’t come soon enough. The bridge has had a 5-ton weight limit since 2010, which means no vehicles heavier than an ambulance should use the bridge.
Center Avenue parallels Route 65/Ohio River Boulevard as it passes through the borough. “It’s going to be an inconvenience because [Center Avenue] is a main connection to Ben Avon and other places,” Ms. Quinn said. “But after working on it for six years, I’m happy they are moving ahead. “It’s something that needs to be done.” Borough officials and police from Ohio Township, which patrols Emsworth, will meet with the Port Authority and contractor Tuesday to get details on the project. The bridge will be closed to vehicles and pedestrians during the rehabilitation.
Port Authority spokesman Adam Brandolph said the bridge will be able to carry buses once the project is finished but the agency hasn’t decided whether it will change bus routes to use Center Avenue again.
