NANTICOKE, Pa. — Residents in one Luzerne County community will have to wait longer for emergency services to reach them. A request for first responders to use the failing bridge that connects Nanticoke and West Nanticoke has been denied.
Luzerne County imposed a five-ton weight limit on the Nanticoke/West Nanticoke Bridge over the Susquehanna River earlier this year following an inspection, discussions with PennDOT, and considerations for public safety.
"I only use it once in a while," said Nanticoke resident Jim Mishanski. "But it's important for a lot of people."
The county is considering two options. One is a partial replacement, using some of the current structure but widening the lanes and the entrances.
The other is a complete replacement of the bridge in a new location. The cost is estimated to be over $50 million.
In the meantime, first responders in Nanticoke were hoping for an exemption to the weight limit. Since the new restriction went into effect, first responders now must use Route 29 (South Cross Valley Expressway) to cross the Susquehanna River, which adds a few more minutes when time matters most.
This week, Luzerne County denied Nanticoke Fire Chief Mark Boncal's request, saying the bridge has inadequate capacity for the proposed emergency vehicles due to the deteriorated diagonal tie bar member, which is currently limiting the bridge's capacity.
The chief tells Newswatch 16 he's done all he can to help with response times across the river. He and the people living in the area hope a permanent solution will be determined soon.
The Nanticoke bridge isn't the only problem span in Luzerne County. Both bridges that connect Pittston and West Pittston are also slated for replacement.