Odds are better than one out of three that any bridge you cross in the Lehigh Valley has serious problems.
Lehigh County only owns 47 of these bridges. When he was Executive, Don Cunningham began an ambitious bridge repair program. He replaced four bridges and had major repairs completed or underway on 17 others by the end of 2010, with another four in design and engineering for imminent replacement.
But Northampton County was in denial. Though the County owns 117 bridges, something else always had priority.
Two years ago, Northampton County Bulldog Ron Angle warned, "Our bridges are in horrible condition, but nobody pays attention to bridges." At that time, Angle was contradicted by the County's bridge inspector, who insisted that our bridges are in "excellent shape."
He's singing a different tune now, is worried that the state might close some of them down, and has recommended immediate action for 18 of them.
Executive John Stoffa wants to spend $7.1 million for repairs and replacements of 18 of the County's worst-rated bridges. Last month, Executive candidate John Callahan agreed that bridges need more priority and supports a bridge bond in principle. Council member Lamont McClure, who ran against Callahan, stated on the campaign trail that he'd prefer "to budget year over year for bridge repairs." After all, a bridge bond might get in the way of McClure's promise not to raise taxes.
That's a recipe for disaster.
With two recent highway bridge collapses in the past week, we can no longer afford to play politics with our aging infrastructure.
Giving in to another of lame duck Stoffa's plan to spend money is a bad idea.
ReplyDeleteThe bridges like everything else have rotted for seven years and old Stoffa decides now to spend, spend, spend. No real plans here, just find things to spend on.
Let us wait for the new Executive in a few months and hope he will have a real plan and not the shoot from the hip ideas of this crazy old coot.
as a candidate in 2005, don cunningham identified 7 bridges in need of repair and replacement. by 2012, he and glen solt were in the bridge business. i became involved to save the reading road bridge, a historical stone arch bridge from 1828, unfortunately, not on the historical list. solt and cunningham have no feel for history, and have torn down other historical bridges that had no advocates. from committee meetings i attended it was obvious that a relationship exists with design firms and contractors. building new bridges is a good sound bite and ribbon cutting opportunity, but when good bridges are also torn down, we have squandered our taxes and history.
ReplyDeleteI live in South Allentown. We do just fine without bridges.
ReplyDeleteAsk Mr. M. M. He can verify this fact.
Just fine.
There's no money because it's been spent on legal fights to spend more money for ambulance service at Gracedale, a needless human services building, and overspending on council chambers that legendary park namee Wayne Grube called, "nice."
ReplyDeleteOur council has routinely ignored bridges and wasted money on needless things. If you or yours should tumble from a failed bridge, just think og the Nazareth Ambulance Corps. They'll show up to retrieve the bodies - for a cost. Peg Ferraro will comfort your family and tell them the funeral is "nice."
Playing politics with bridges?
ReplyDeleteThere's no greater way to do that than using a national tragedy as an excuse to shovel business to campaign donors.
While some bridges might need work, others get the ratings you cite only because of their size when built - not because of any danger of collapse.
Bernie
ReplyDeleteForget this blogging thing. Grab a nice stainless steel coffee cart and stand at the 4th St. Exit to
Rt. 22. Imagine almost two years of single lane construction looms ahead for motorists. Two years!
A Promise Is a Promise or Always Get It in Writing.
ReplyDeleteOh yea. Not when it seems the much-loved Braden Family of Easton sold its valued open space to an airport authority that promised to always keep it flying.
Anonymous said...
ReplyDeleteI live in South Allentown. We do just fine without bridges.
Ask Mr. M. M. He can verify this fact.
Just fine.
5:00 AM
But you forget. The curved concrete bridge that allows Good Shepherd neighborhood residents to travel to S. 4th St. was redone a few years back. That's in S. Allentown.
Each of the worst rated bridges should be named after a council member. This will identify culprits, in the event of a collapse, and incentivize members to do their jobs. Their name shall only be removed from the failing bridge when repairs are completed; at such time, the bridge will be returned its numeric designation.
ReplyDeleteI'd wait to see how they feel about a bridge bond. When McClure starts piping up, I'd name the worst one after him. I'm sure I'd want to name one after Barron, too.
ReplyDeleteMM, While it is certainly true that some of these older bridges have some historical significance, and I share a suspicion of any public expenditure, it's also true that our bridges are a mess and need to be addressed. I can show you one or two so-called historical bridges
ReplyDeleteover which I would not walk, let alone drive, right here in NC.
Bridge repair is part of what a County is supposed to do, by the way.
"There's no greater way to do that than using a national tragedy as an excuse to shovel business to campaign donors."
ReplyDeleteStoffa has no campaign donors.
Next.
"There's no greater way to do that than using a national tragedy as an excuse to shovel business to campaign donors."
ReplyDeleteStoffa has no campaign donors.
Next.
" Not when it seems the much-loved Braden Family of Easton sold its valued open space to an airport authority that promised to always keep it flying."
ReplyDeleteWhy should we care? Do we have some moral obligation to support small airports, too?
"others get the ratings you cite only because of their size when built - not because of any danger of collapse."
ReplyDeleteThat is why there are two categories, anonymous engineer.
For more than seven years, Stoffa and his idiot Director of Pubic Works (yeah I said Pubic because of the screwing he gives taxpayers) has ignored major issues in this County. They had the money to do good things and squandered it on the "Swaption" (Stoffa could have bailed out early) and hoarding the money so he could go eight years with no tax increase. We don't need nor do we want a bond. Raise taxes like he did for "land preservation" and when the bridges are fixed eliminate that millage. I do not want to pay for a bridge three times. That is the interest on a bond. Stop this nonsense. John hasn't done anything but ride the wave for eight years and now he wants to burden a new administration with his wild ass schemes.
ReplyDeletethe major problem with bridges is that there is little on going maintenance done. once there is a proposal of replacing a bridge, all maintenance completely stops. here in allentown, the city allowed the 15th street bridge to rust away, because the state said they would replace it. however, budgets changed, and the decades pasted, yet no maintenance was done on the bridge. glen solt is now allowing the walnut street bridge in allentown to deteriorate, because his replacement plan has been halted, he's determined to prove his point, one way or another. in europe, bridges are hundreds of years old, considered both attractions and treasures. we here in the U.S. prefer under built, over engineered, new disposable bridges. in N.Y.C., the Brooklyn Bridge is a hundred years old. The Golden State goes back to the depression. Paint and maintenance are the answers.
ReplyDeleteI agree that lack of ongoing maintenance has been a long time NorCo issue with all of its facilities: Gracedale, Wolfe, bridges, etc .... It cost money, creates temporary inconveniences, and generates no public gratitude for elected public servants because it creates nothing new and tangible. So to avoid public ire nothing gets done until you have to, but by then it costs big lump sums shocking to the wallet. Put blame where it is due.
ReplyDeleteBut you still have the problems, and you have to eventually bite the bullet. Sometimes it takes a lame duck (and we have a whole flock between Exec and Council) to take on such issues. And I am sure whoever the incoming Councilpersons/Exec will be would be secretly grateful-- needed work gets put into motion, and they can deflect negative comments about cost/inconvenience onto their predecessors... though still take credit for overseeing it in the long run when seeking re-election.
it's that low? I'm shocked
ReplyDeleteSmall airports are the kind of infrastructure that make a community great. Once they are gone they are never coming back.
ReplyDeleteHard to understand?
Very hard to understand. I've never flown in or out of Braden. I've never relied upon it for anything. I am one of 99.99% of people who pay taxes and don't own a private plane or ever rely upon one. The only negative impact to losing Braden would be still more residential development and more kids in an already troubled school system. Nobody is losing a transportation option but the microscopically few who used the place; mostly as a hobby.
ReplyDeleteThis is a great story Bernie, I am glad you have brought it up. I will have to agree with Mr. Molovinsky in that regular maintenance is the key to extending the life of our county's infrastructure. With bridges in particular, a lack of maintenance becomes a safety hazard. An action plan needs to be instituted now. Another point to be made is the state is currently working on funding streams to localities for bridge repairs and replacements. I hope the next administration will work aggressively toward getting that money to Northampton County.
ReplyDeleteI don't own a plane. Only owned two new cars in my life ( 60 something ). Working guy.I rent.
ReplyDeleteI think the airports add something nice. No doubt they will be a much bigger asset in the future if we have them.
We thought the passenger trains were unnecessary too. Remember?
That South Allentown bridge by Good Shepard also took forever to build.
ReplyDeleteBut the deal with the 15th St bridge is freaking unreal!
Can't beleive this town re-elects such losers year after year. Disgraceful.
"yeah I said Pubic because of the screwing he gives taxpayers)"
ReplyDeleteNo, you said it bc you are vulgar and that just turns readers off.
"Small airports are the kind of infrastructure that make a community great. Once they are gone they are never coming back.
ReplyDeleteHard to understand?"
Yes. I'm not being a smart ass, but I question whether we should even have the LVIA, to say noting of Braden or Queen City. I don't think it is wise to throw public money at monuments to ego.
Set, you agree with MM? Now he's going to be insufferable. I understand that Glenn Solt is planning on using him as fill for that stone arch bridge
ReplyDeleteIf we want the Lehigh Valley to stay a provincial backwater in perpituity we should absolutely get rid of these airports.
ReplyDeleteHicksville,USA.
Seth,
ReplyDeleteThe action plan you speak of should not count on any State money. It is the responsibility of the counties.
Now if the State were to give money, great. But don't count on it.
All the points that were made are valid about the current executive and his apathy and negligence to replace bridges and take care of the community he was elected to govern over.
Please take notes of these failures!
Anon3:54, absolutely spot on. Stoffa tenure can only be seen as a failure. he spent the money the Reibman tax increases raised. He let county property fall apart. He spent money recklessly.
ReplyDeleteIt will be a good day for the county when he leaves. he was a goo lesson for all on how not to govern.
He was either the sneakiest or most incompetent county executive to hold office.
Re: Allentown "curved" bridge bridge by Good Shepard. The blacktop approach is ratty and the sidewalk is full of weeds. Shabby.
ReplyDeleteAt least it's structurally sound.
For now.