BRIDGE RESTORATION WILL PRESERVE HISTORIC STRUCTURE

            WEST CHESTER, January 25 – State Senator Andy Dinniman announced that repair work on the 141-year-old Hares Hill Road Bridge, which crosses the French Creek in East Pikeland Township, will preserve the bridge’s structure without undermining its historical integrity.

            “It’s great that we were able to preserve this local landmark and ensure that the Hares Hill Road Bridge continues to reflect the historic character of rural Chester County, while providing safe travel for decades to come,” Dinniman said.

            The bridge, which was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1978 for its historical and technical significance, is the only known surviving example of Thomas William Moseley’s Wrought Iron Lattice Girder Bridge and the only wrought iron highway bridge in public use in Chester County.

            When it was slated for repair, along with five other Chester County bridges in 2008, Dinniman worked with PennDOT officials to ensure that its historic features, such as the stone wing walls, be maintained.

            Under the project, the girders, grid-deck and damaged structural members will be replaced. A center concrete strip will be added for bicycle use, the bridge will be cleaned and painted, the roadway approaches will be resurfaced and the walls repaired. Once completed, the bridge’s current 7-ton weight restriction will be raised to 15 tons.

            Construction is expected to begin this spring.

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