Ligonier Township is moving forward with plans to refurbish a bridge on Harvey Road after awarding a contract for the project to a Washington County company.
Replacement of a closed township bridge on Ramsey Road also is closer to reality now that state officials have approved the township’s application for funding.
The township supervisors voted to use Bioni Drilling of Cecil Township to complete work on the Harvey Road bridge over Macks Run, subject to a review by the township solicitor and engineer. The company submitted a low price of $102,436 from among five bidders.
The bridge requires a new steel deck and an abutment reinforcement, according to township engineer Ben Faas of The EADS Group.
Township manager Michael Strelic said some project details were being worked out, including a potential detour during part of the process.
As for the construction timeline, Strelic said, “It’s going to be quick.”
He said the township received $137,000 for the project from the federal Community Development Block Grant program and is expected to spend the money by the end of April.
Harvey Road transitions into Umheys Road, providing an alternate connection between Routes 271 and 711.
Strelic said the township learned it has been approved for state funding of $574,305, the entire amount it requested a little more than a year ago to help replace the Ramsey Road bridge.
A local funding match will be required to supplement the grant, Strelic said.
The bridge that carries Ramsey Road across Hannas Run was closed after an inspection revealed an abutment had become undermined and had dropped between 2 inches and 4 inches. The bridge abutments are to be removed and the steel grate span is to be replaced by a concrete box culvert.
In the meantime, traffic has been detoured along nearby Robb Road.