Last Wednesday, officials from PennDOT and its subcontracting consortium Walsh Granite conducted a public meeting in Upper Hanover to discuss upcoming bridge repairs along Route 663 (Layfield Road). Two projects, tentatively scheduled for the summer of 2017, will close a portion of the road heading west from Pennsburg while work is done to both bridges.

        Rory McGlasson, of Walsh Granite, presented details on the project that will replace the bridge over the west branch of the Perkiomen Creek, just beyond Kutztown Road. According to McGlasson, the project will take no more than 75 days. Due to the structural integrity of the bridge, the project will require closure of both lanes of traffic.

        Velaga Narayana of PennDOT gave some details on planned repairs to the larger bridge over the Perkiomen Creek at the Green Lane Reservoir. According to Narayana, the project will reuse the bridge's substructures but replace the deck, a job that will take approximately four  months. These repairs will also require closure of both lanes of traffic.

        "Nobody likes detours, we understand that," McGlasson commented. "But to get these bridges where they need to be, there will need to be a detour."

        McGlasson and Narayana both expect the projects to run concurrently, shortening the overall length of time that the detour will be necessary. Narayana cautioned however, that repairs to the larger bridge will need to begin early next summer, regardless of the official start date of the second project.

        "The bridge is deteriorating," Narayana explained. "We can't really wait much longer than that."

        Narayana added that the steel plate covering a part of the westbound lane will remain in place until the repairs begin but noted that, in the meantime, the bridge is safe.

        The official PennDOT detour will be posted as Route 29 to Route 100 and back through Route 73, a detour totaling 17 miles. While residents may find alternate routes around the detour, Upper Hanover officials were in attendance to begin to plan for the impact on township roads.

        "663 is a very busy road with a large variety of traffic," Township Manager Stan Seitz Inger commented.

        "The number one reason we are replacing the bridge is the safety of the traveling public," McGlasson explained.

        "It's a temporary inconvenience for a permanent improvement."