About 2 Months Into Closure Of Valley Forge Road Bridge, Frustrations Running High
By Jim Melwert
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- About two months into the closure of the Valley Forge Road bridge between Phoenixville and Valley Forge, and frustrations are running high. While some elected officials are pushing for a late-summer opening, PennDOT says it is doing all it can to get the busy roadway re-opened as soon as possible.
PennDOT says they've re-worked the contract to expedite the Route23-Valley Forge road bridge with a new end date of November 26th, and a $3,000 a day incentive for an early completion.
State Senator Andy Dinniman says the bridge closure is a hardship on residents and businesses in the area and he'll continue to push for an earlier opening.
"PennDOT is giving a November date, but PennDOT can complete this in September," said Dinniman.
But PennDOT spokesman Charles Metzger is hesitant to peg a specific date, but says the contractor is:
"He's working five ten-hour days now. He's brought on extra guys to help get construction rolling at a little bit of a quicker pace."
During the closure 19,000 cars per day are pushed onto small side streets or to the already jammed Route 422.
