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Ceremony marks completion of Westminster College bridge project

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Posted on Thursday, November 1, 2018

NEW WILMINGTON, PA – A ribbon-cutting ceremony Thursday afternoon on the Westminster College campus officially marked the completion of the College Drive Bridge replacement project.

The project, made possible by a $438,116 state Multimodal Transportation Fund grant, allowed for the removal and replacement of a bridge spanning McClure Run near the Westminster College Field House.

In addition to College officials, attending the ceremony were state Sen. Elder Vogel (R-47) and state Rep. Parke Wentling (R-17) who both assisted in securing the state grant. New Wilmington Mayor Sherie Babb and representatives from Taylor Engineering and Jet Excavating were also present.

“We are grateful for the support from the Commonwealth that enabled us to replace the bridge and for the assistance Sen. Vogel and Rep. Wentling provided to help us obtain the grant,” said Westminster College President Dr. Kathy Brittain Richardson. “We now have a bridge that is safer for vehicles and for pedestrians on a much-used public road that runs through the heart of our campus.”

The previous bridge had deteriorated significantly in recent years, resulting in costly annual repairs and weight restrictions. Additionally, the lack of crosswalks or walkways along the bridge impacted pedestrian safety.

The new College Drive Bridge now accommodates two lanes of traffic and features a protected sidewalk and crosswalks. Free of weight restrictions, the bridge now supports New Wilmington Volunteer Fire Department tankers, improving the local emergency response plan. The tankers are filled using water from Brittain Lake and the old bridge’s weight restrictions prevented trucks from passing to points north and east of town.

Above photo: Front row from left, Westminster College Vice President for Finance and Management Services Kenneth J. Romig; New Wilmington Mayor Sherie Babb; Westminster President Dr. Kathy Brittain Richardson; state Sen. Elder Vogel (R-47) and state Rep. Parke Wentling (R-17). Back row from left, Brian Rogers of Taylor Engineering, Bill Humphrey of Taylor Engineering, Jerry Brown of JET Excavating, Todd Phillips of JET Excavating, and Westminster Physical Plant Director Ronald Pennington.

Below: The bridge's new sidewalk allows for safer pedestrian traffic.