LUZERNE COUNTY, Pa. — A three-year plan was unveiled on Wednesday night for two century-old bridges that connect Pittston and West Pittston in Luzerne County.
"When you look at everything as a whole, the best solution was to replace both bridges generally where they're at right now," said Tim Benner, engineer.
After years of closures and decay, engineers from Pennsylvania's Department of Transportation now say they plan to replace both bridges that connect Pittston and West Pittston.
Dozens of residents from the surrounding communities gathered in the Wyoming Area Secondary Center Auditorium Wednesday night to see some of the designs PennDOT has planned for the closed Firefighters Memorial Bridge and the deteriorating Dale J. Kridlo Memorial Bridge that stretch across the Susquehanna River.
"They are important for Pittston and West Pittston and they're very vital arteries for the areas. Right now, we're estimating the project to be about $105 million for these two structures and the roadway improvements on both sides," said Rich Roman, PennDot District 4 Executive.
PennDOT's first step in the anticipated three-year project would be to replace the Firefighter's Memorial Bridge, which has been closed to all traffic since failing inspection back in 2021. Once that is complete, construction crews would then begin work on replacing the Dale J Kridlo Memorial Bridge, moving the entrance and exit over a bit on the Pittston side.
"We need to have new infrastructure, so we need to have new Bridges," said Ron Pazdziorko of Exeter.
"They have to get replaced. The one bridge is just unattainable. There's accidents, there's near misses all day long. I hear them. I live right there," added Lynn Burbank of West Pittston.
After years of waiting, Lynn Burbank of West Pittston says all of her concerns were answered at PennDOT's meeting. Now, she's ready for the project to get started.
"I wish it would get pushed up if possible. I understand how government works. They have to go through their process. Whatever makes it better and safer," said Burbank.
PennDOT hopes to begin construction in 2027 and wrap up the bridge project by 2030.
With yearly maintenance, officials anticipate the new bridges will last 100 years.