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PennDOT, politicians mark opening of Greene Co. span
The bridge replaces the 79-year-old Albert Gallatin Memorial Bridge that had fallen into disrepair. Construction on the new span began in January 2008. The contractor for the project was Swank Associated Co. Inc. of New Kensington.
State Secretary of Transportation Allen Biehler congratulated everyone involved in the bridge project.
"We have the highest number of bridges of any state in the U.S. We have 5,830-plus and counting that are in need of replacement or repair. Today, we get to check another off that list," Biehler said. "We are thrilled to be able to do that with this structure."
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"District 12 has been recognized with a national award by the American Association of State Highway Transportation Officials. That says a lot about the work that they are doing, to be reconized nationally," Biehler said.
State Sen. J. Barry Stout, D-Bentleyville, said this bridge is important to commerce between the two counties and to the social lives of the people there for shopping and visiting with family and friends across the river.
"This was a cooperative effort. Through a series of public meetings, we went through the process of replacing the existing bridge," Stout said. "It is a good example of how District 12 reaches out and works with the communities. They didn't make decisions in a vacuum."
State Sen. Richard Kasunic, D-Dunbar, noted it was a beautiful Indian summer day for the ribbon cutting, unlike the rainy, snowy and cold weather that accompanied the groundbreaking for the bridge.
"This bridge is a bridge of progress. With the Marcellus Shale taking off in the area, there is a lot of truck traffic taking stone to drilling sites," Kasunic said, making reference to the many trucks and cars that traveled on the old bridge. "It has long served the purpose of hauling coal and people to their places of employment."
Kasunic added he was glad to see the bridge completed before a catastrophe occured like the one in Minnesota when the I-35 W Bridge collapsed in 2007 during rush hour, killing 13 people.
Like his counterparts, state Rep. Bill DeWeese, D-Waynesburg, said he tips his hat to PennDOT, something not everyone has done in the past.
"Today is a manifest reason to do just that," DeWeese said. "My own recollection of the Albert Gallatin Memorial Bridge is quite keen when I crossed this bridge after leaving Camp Pendelton and returning home. We are bringing families together socially and allowing for commerce between the two counties with this structure."
DeWeese noted that there are those who will speak against government spending of any type.
"When you hear these anti-government types speak, they need to be reminded that the goverment isn't only the FBI and politicians. It is the men and women who are PennDOT," he said. "It is a golden day, and I'm glad to be here."
PennDOT District 12 Executive Joseph Szczur said he was especially grateful to have the kind of funding necessary to complete a project of this magnitude.
"Hopefully, this is the first of a lot of major bridges, but also smaller bridges, that we are able to replace," Szczur said.
After the traditional ribbon cutting, the first official vehicles crossed the new bridge. Since the bridge connects the counties of Fayette and Greene, Valerie Peterson, media representative for District 12, arranged for fire trucks from the Bobtown and Point Marion volunteer fire companies to pass in the middle after coming from their respective counties.
Also as part of the festivities, two students from Bobtown Elementary School, read the poem "The Bridge Builder."
The Point Marion Bridge serves an average of 3,700 vehicles daily across the Monongahela River between Fayette and Greene Counties, according to PennDOT.
The new bridge was built with a wide sidewalk to accommodate pedestrians and bicyclists and a barrier that separates the walkway from the roadway.
To minimize travel delays, the old bridge was kept open during construction and is slated to be demolished in November.
DeWeese : 10/23/2009
DedWeese never loses an opportunity to inflate his ego or parade his two year service in the military. Looks like he has started his campaign again against Hopkins!
DeWeese : 10/23/2009
More of his self-important, pompous, grandstanding. The "anti-government types" aren't against PennDOT or other necessary services, Mr De Weese. They are against arrogant, aristocratic career politiians who are full of themselves--like you. You are a pathetic example of all that is wrong with government.
