Narberth Faces Bridge Decision

The fate of the closed Narberth Avenue bridge, a typically busy conduit to Narberth's downtown business district, is the most prominent item on Wednesday night's Borough Council agenda.

The bridge has been closed since late August because of faults found in a PennDOT inspection; the estimated . Faults on the same bridge in fall 2011 were repaired for about $55,000.

The borough is already planning to replace the bridge beginning in early 2014, at a cost of $6.5 million over 12 to 15 months of construction.

One decision the council must make Wednesday night is whether to test the bridge to see whether, if repaired, it would still safely bear the weight of a three-ton vehicle. The council would likely not approve repairs at all without such a study.

Pedestrians have been allowed over the bridge during the closure.

The meeting begins at 8 p.m. Wednesday at the borough building, 100 Conway Ave.

What should the borough do with the Narberth Avenue bridge: repair for $250,000 or wait for replacement? Tell us in the comments.