The Herald, Sharon, Pa.

Community

Discussion

November 9, 2009

Walk this way

Temporary foot bridges installed

By Monica Pryts

JAMESTOWN — Two of Jamestown’s four foot bridges have reopened temporarily, but construction on the permanent structures probably won’t be done until spring.

“We had to come up with something,” said William “Doug” McElhaney, council president.

The heavily used pedestrian walkways, two each on Jackson Street and Liberty Street, were scheduled to be replaced by mid-June.

The deteriorating concrete ones were demolished earlier this year and new supports were poured, but construction stopped there.

PennDOT, which is overseeing the project, told the contractors to stop because of welding certification issues with the bridges’ manufacturer in Minnesota, McElhaney said.

That company is still waiting to get recertified so it can continue making the bridges. Stress tests on some welded samples failed, he said.

“The saga continues,” he said.

The bridges have been closed since the demolition and pedestrians have had to walk on the street. That could have been dangerous when school resumed Aug. 24 and the Jamestown Community Fair started Sept. 8, but temporary traffic control and outlined walkways worked out well, he said.

Franklin-based Shingledeckers Welding Inc. is the project contractor and at the end of October, its crews set up temporary bridges, one on Jackson and one on Liberty. The other two remain closed, McElhaney said.

The temporary structures, made of steel and lumber, should hold up through the winter and everyone hopes construction can start again when spring arrives.

“It’s the only solution for now,” he said.

No one has complained about the new setup and pedestrians seem happy to have at least a temporary fix, he said.

The project is funded mostly by a $154,474 federal grant through the Safe Routes to School program. The borough has chipped in about $20,000 to cover engineering costs, a requirement to use the grant.

Text Only
Community
  • Curry promoted to Allied editor

    Herald copy editor and page designer Kim Curry has returned to lead sister paper Allied News -- where she began her full-time journalism career -- and staff writer Monica Pryts is reporting from Allied’s Grove City office.

    February 9, 2012

  • Vets’ clubs coordinate coupon clipping for troops

    The next time you come across coupons for items you don’t buy or that have expired, hang on to them; military men and women overseas can use them for their own groceries.

    February 6, 2012

  • American chestnut topic of workshops

    If you have an interest in helping contribute to the eventual return of American chestnut to our forest ecosystems, one of these workshops might be your cure for spring fever:

    February 4, 2012

  • Farrell grad a classic(al) example

    A Farrell High School graduate will return to the Shenango Valley next weekend to perform with an elite classical guitar quartet from the State University of New York at Fredonia.

    February 2, 2012

  • Kids meet challenge with 3-D creations

    When Sharpsville Area Elementary School fifth-grade teachers asked students to create their own cities, they were expecting colorful drawings of buildings, parks and streets.

    February 1, 2012

  • Student revives animation technique for feature spot in band’s music video

    Westminster College sophomore Joe Ligo knew the process of incorporating stop-motion animation into the video wouldn’t be easy.

    January 29, 2012

  • New coffee house Hallowed grounds

    Churches look to infuse faith in believers in all kinds of ways.

    At First Presbyterian Church of Sharon, leaders are hoping a little bit of coffee might help.

    Last week the church hosted its first Cana’s Corner Coffeehouse. Twice a month the church will open its doors to musicians and set up a coffee and snack bar.

    January 24, 2012 1 Photo

  • Hallowed grounds

    Churches look to infuse faith in believers in all kinds of ways.
    At First Presbyterian Church of Sharon, leaders are hoping a little bit of coffee might help.

    January 15, 2012

  • Satellite office

    For nearly 30 years, Sharon native Edward “Ted” Cattron was bound by threat of treason charges to keep a big secret from his family and friends and only recently has been able to share the truth.

    December 11, 2011

  • Artist creates with fabric

    Evian Zukas-Oguz said her husband calls her “the nutty professor of fabric” because of the way she goes into her own world when crocheting, sewing, weaving on a loom or working on a knitting machine.

    December 8, 2011