From staff reports
The truss bridge that carries Petroleum Center Road (Route 1004) over Oil Creek in Cornplanter Township was closed Friday due to advanced deterioration and structural concerns discovered during a recent inspection, the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation announced.
The bridge is located within Oil Creek State Park, near the intersection with Russell Corners Road, the park office, and the Egbert Farm Day Use area.
According to PennDOT, a detour is posted using Route 8, Route 227, State Park Road and Petroleum Center Road. Temporary signs and message boards are in place along the detour route. Plans call for long-term signs to be installed later this fall.
On average, PennDOT said, the bridge is used by about 75 vehicles a day.
The bridge is eligible for the National Register of Historic Places for its engineering significance, which includes its distinct design and its standing as an example of work done by the Morse Bridge Co., of Youngstown, Ohio.
“Historical bridges come with unique challenges. Simply replacing this bridge with a new one is not an option,” PennDOT District 1 Executive Brian McNulty said. We are bound by state and federal regulations to coordinate the scopes and details of these projects with the State Historic Preservation Office, which takes more time than most simple bridge projects.
“Repairs and rehabilitation efforts must follow guidelines and preserve the historic nature of the structure. These factors require time to evaluate and design solutions that meet today’s structural and historical standards.”
For more local news, visit TheDerrick.com.
