DUBOIS – The Platt Road Bridge closed Monday after another hole formed.
The bridge that spans over Sandy Lick Creek was barricaded off Monday after Sandy Township had an engineering firm look at the bridge’s current state. Township officials notified the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation of the closure.
It had been known that the bridge was in bad shape. One hole was covered over with a metal plate and a weight limit had been put in place. This new opening lead township officials to feel it was too dangerous to allow its continued use. Both holes formed between the guide rails and the side of the bridge beyond what vehicles drove on.
According to Township Manager Dick Castonguay the township is hoping to be able to repair the bridge on their own. The repair would consist of strengthening the support of the bridge. This would be funded from the general fund, and it is hoped that by doing this will allow the township to get the project finished cheaper.
Castonguay said that he did feel it would be better just to get a new, wider bridge. The current bridge is only wide enough to have one vehicle at a time.
There is a private road that runs around the bridge, but currently it is not being used as a detour.
Platt Road Bridge has been barricaded off to prevent vehicles from traveling on it. (Steven McDole)
