Irwin closed the Colony Drive Bridge off Route 30 on Wednesday following the discovery of a foot-wide hole in the deck.
The closure has prompted a full evaluation of the structure to determine its safety.
Dan Schmitt, an engineer with Gibson-Thomas Engineering of Latrobe, could not provide council members with a timetable for when the bridge might be repaired or reopened. In the meantime, Irwin’s public works department has placed barriers at both ends of the bridge, according to borough officials.
Borough council directed Gibson-Thomas to conduct further testing and a comprehensive evaluation. The hole in the deck, which spans an unnamed tributary of Tinker’s Run, has already revealed deeper structural issues.
“It’s a very sandy concrete. It’s just falling apart,” Schmitt said, noting that heavy rain could exacerbate the deterioration.
While the engineering firm intends to seek funding for a replacement deck, Schmitt warned that securing those funds could take time. If the firm applies for traditional funding in the fall, it may take a full year to learn if the request is approved. Engineers plan to reach out to local officials to see if any discretionary money is available to expedite the process.
The evaluation will cover the entire structure, including the footers and abutments. If those foundational elements require replacement, the project timeline will extend further, as the borough would need to secure a permit from the state Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) to work within the stream.
Because a detour would require motorists to travel through North Huntingdon, borough manager Shari Martino said she plans to contact the township to coordinate. The detour would also utilize part of Route 30. Andrew Stacy, a PennDOT spokesman, noted the borough should coordinate with the state on road usage and sign placement.
Martino has already notified the Westmoreland County Department of Public Safety, the Irwin Fire Department and emergency management officials of the closure. She also plans to notify the Norwin School District and Waste Management, the borough’s trash hauler.
