PennDOT officials say there are fewer bridges in central Pennsylvania that need repair than in other part of the state but there is a bridge in Snyder County set for a face lift, which drivers say can't come too soon.
A sign says Welcome to Paxtonville but according to many there, the bridge over Middle Creek is far from a welcoming sight.
"It's been deteriorating for years. It's bad. Even in the concrete pillars you can see deterioration. Not safe," said Dan Osgood of Richfield.
Built in 1932, the steel I-beam bridge has the marker to prove it. Now, more than 75 years later, state bridge inspectors said the bridge is down to one lane to keep weight off the weaker, outer beams.
PennDOT rates the bridge a 28 out of a possible 100.
Andrew Snook of Paxtonville drives over the bridge a couple times a week.
"It needs to be replaced. If I take my dump truck loaded across there, it sways. It's in rough shape," Snook said.
On the surface the bridge near Paxtonville is already showing its age. There are barrels on both sides, limiting the bridge to just one lane of traffic. If you take a look underneath the bridge, it is where locals said you can actually see years of wear and tear that really needs to be fixed soon.
"I'm scared to fish under it anymore. Things keep dropping off it," said Ron Kratzer of Paxtonville. He and his brother, Gary, grew up in Paxtonville and have seen the concrete crumble on the bridge.
Then there are the beams. Some are rusted through in spots big as a fist.
"The beams underneath, the I-beams are bolted and plated together, but there is heavy perforation in all them beams, looks pretty bad," Kratzer added.
But as bad as the Paxtonville Bridge is, PennDOT plans to replace it in 2010.
"We prioritize based on how much traffic do they handle, are they on a major road, things of that nature," explained Rick Mason of PennDOT.
Since the Paxtonville Bridge sees relatively few cars and trucks every day, PennDPT officials said millions of dollars are going to fix other bridges in the meantime.
The same goes for a bridge on Route 477 in Salona, Clinton County. It rates only a six out of 100. PennDOT is making some repairs now but the bridge won't be replaced until 2010.
In Lycoming County a bridge near Muncy will wait even longer, until 2012 for repairs. It is also rated a 28.
"We have resources to deal with x-number of bridges and we can't do x plus 20, 30 or 40 with the resources available," Mason said.
"It just gets ignored because they feel there's not enough traffic, evidently. We get to take a back seat on funding, evidently," Ron Kratzer said.
Despite wishing the Paxtonville Bridge was replaced years ago, the Kratzer brothers know they will have to wait a couple more years for a new bridge in Snyder County.
A sign says Welcome to Paxtonville but according to many there, the bridge over Middle Creek is far from a welcoming sight.
"It's been deteriorating for years. It's bad. Even in the concrete pillars you can see deterioration. Not safe," said Dan Osgood of Richfield.
Built in 1932, the steel I-beam bridge has the marker to prove it. Now, more than 75 years later, state bridge inspectors said the bridge is down to one lane to keep weight off the weaker, outer beams.
PennDOT rates the bridge a 28 out of a possible 100.
Andrew Snook of Paxtonville drives over the bridge a couple times a week.
"It needs to be replaced. If I take my dump truck loaded across there, it sways. It's in rough shape," Snook said.
On the surface the bridge near Paxtonville is already showing its age. There are barrels on both sides, limiting the bridge to just one lane of traffic. If you take a look underneath the bridge, it is where locals said you can actually see years of wear and tear that really needs to be fixed soon.
"I'm scared to fish under it anymore. Things keep dropping off it," said Ron Kratzer of Paxtonville. He and his brother, Gary, grew up in Paxtonville and have seen the concrete crumble on the bridge.
Then there are the beams. Some are rusted through in spots big as a fist.
"The beams underneath, the I-beams are bolted and plated together, but there is heavy perforation in all them beams, looks pretty bad," Kratzer added.
But as bad as the Paxtonville Bridge is, PennDOT plans to replace it in 2010.
"We prioritize based on how much traffic do they handle, are they on a major road, things of that nature," explained Rick Mason of PennDOT.
Since the Paxtonville Bridge sees relatively few cars and trucks every day, PennDPT officials said millions of dollars are going to fix other bridges in the meantime.
The same goes for a bridge on Route 477 in Salona, Clinton County. It rates only a six out of 100. PennDOT is making some repairs now but the bridge won't be replaced until 2010.
In Lycoming County a bridge near Muncy will wait even longer, until 2012 for repairs. It is also rated a 28.
"We have resources to deal with x-number of bridges and we can't do x plus 20, 30 or 40 with the resources available," Mason said.
"It just gets ignored because they feel there's not enough traffic, evidently. We get to take a back seat on funding, evidently," Ron Kratzer said.
Despite wishing the Paxtonville Bridge was replaced years ago, the Kratzer brothers know they will have to wait a couple more years for a new bridge in Snyder County.
