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RICE TWP. — A bridge in Rice Township reopened on Monday, allowing resident to avoid a 1.2 mile detour necessary when the bridge closed in February.
Jeff Beck, township secretary, said the township closed the bridge over Laurel Run in the Laurel Lakes development in February after a damaged culvert was identified by township officials.
The culvert that allows the stream to go under the road was extremely rusted and had collapsed, according to Beck.
Officials awarded Latona Trucking the contract to replace the culvert at a cost of about $158,000 in July.
“The had to do extensive excavation, remove the collapsed culvert and install new concrete wingwalls,” he said.
Beck said Latona still needs to put in guide rails on the side of the roadway to complete the project, but that temporary barriers had been set up.
He cautioned motorists to stay within the speed limit.
“The bridge is open,” he said. “But, it doesn’t mean off to the races.”