Township to take over control of Montco bridge

UPPER HANOVER The Fruitville Road Bridge is about to be torn down and reborn under local authority.

The Montgomery County commissioners last week approved a plan to rebuild the bridge, using primarily federal money, and hand it over to Upper Hanover Township.

The director of assets and infrastructure, Kenneth Starr, said the bridge had been closed for several years and probably would have been demolished if the township had not agreed to take it off the county's hands.

With dozens of other bridges in need of repair, Fruitville was low on the list because it was in bad shape and "there are alternate ways to get around," Starr said. "Upper Hanover felt this would be a key bridge in terms of their long-term planning . . . so we like to work with them to find a solution."

The county will continue to spend about $12,500 a year on routine maintenance and cleanup for the bridge for the next 25 years. But it will not be responsible for any major damage, upgrades, or problems that may arise over the bridge's projected 50-year life span, Starr said. - Jessica Parks