An update was given on Tuesday night at a meeting of the Pennsburg Emergency Services Board regarding the removal of the Main Street bridge over the former Reading Railroad tracks in Pennsburg.

            According to an email from Nathan Parrish of PennDOT to Pennsburg Borough Council President Diane Stevens, and shared with the group by Council Member Wayne Stevens, the bids for the project are tentatively expected to be open on Sept. 29 but could be late October or November.

            Construction is expected to begin, and road closures will be in place, in February or March 2023.

            Wayne Stevens also reported that PennDOT will provide temporary traffic lights at West Eighth Street and Montgomery Avenue and West 11th Street and Montgomery Avenue during the project.  PennDOT will also be providing eight speed bumps to be installed.  The committee brought up the possibility of adding additional speed bumps, at the borough's expense, to help calm traffic.

            Further discussions will be held on traffic calming measures on Lake Lane, Lakeview Terrace, Eighth Street., 11th Street, and other borough arteries that drivers may use as alternatives when Main Street is closed.

            Officials were hoping that PennDOT would be paving 11th Street as part of the project, but Wayne Stevens said that wouldn't be part of the project. 

            Borough council member Mike Mensch mentioned that a portion of 11th Street would be repaved as part of the project at the Bayberry Crossing development.

            Wayne Stevens said that the borough would be seeking a grant in the near future towards funding the 11th Street repaving.

            Still to be finalized is the location and construction of a temporary pedestrian bridge linking the north and south sides of Main Street during the project.