Ownership of Pucketa Creek bridge split between 2 counties; repair plans underway

It’s not usual for residents to complain about potholes.

But when Upper Burrell residents recently complained about huge potholes on the Lincoln Beach bridge off of Greensburg Road (Route 366) at Lincoln Boulevard, township officials had to check who exactly owned the span over Pucketa Creek.

They knew it wasn’t them.

The answer wasn’t readily apparent at a Supervisors’ Wednesday night meeting: The bridge straddles the boundary of two communities and two counties.

Officially known as Pucketa Creek Bridge No. 5, the span links Upper Burrell to Plum, and Westmoreland County to Allegheny County.

After the meeting, Upper Burrell’s engineer, David Kerchner of Bankson Engineers, referenced some correspondence on a proposed bridge project several years ago and found that Allegheny County owned the span.

Allegheny County owns the bridge jointly with Westmoreland County and plans are underway for an estimated $850,000 superstructure replacement, said Brent Wasko, spokesman for the Allegheny County Department of Public Works.

Additionally, the potholes should be patched soon and within the week, he said Thursday.

Upper Burrell Supervisors Chairman Ross Walker was happy to hear about the bridge plans. He and solicitor Steve Yakopec planned to find the bridge owners and send a letter on its condition.

“Upper Burrell takes every complaint seriously and we try to move quickly,” he said Friday. “We are already working to have the potholes repaired,” Walker said on Friday.

True to their word, either PennDOT or the township patched the potholes by Saturday.

If only all potholes were patched so quickly.

The bridge has been inspected recently, Wasko said. It is structurally deficient but is safe, he said.

The upcoming bridge project will replace the superstructure including the bridge’s beams, barriers, deck, and pavement as well as roadway approach work, he said.

The two counties will split the cost of the project that has been in the works for several years. “It is currently in the design phase,” Wasko said. “We are also working to acquire the necessary right-of-ways and coordinate with the affected utilities.”

Construction could begin as early as next year, he said.

Contractors will install a temporary bridge for residents in Upper Burrell Township’s Lincoln Beach section to access their homes during construction, Wasko said.