Unsafe Conditions Force Closure Of Pedestrian Crossing In Newtown

NEWTOWN BOROUGH, PA — The pedestrian crossing at the Centre Avenue Bridge has been closed until further notice after a hole was discovered in the walkway Monday morning.

A representative from The First National Bank of Newtown contacted the borough Monday morning to report that a foot wide hole had appeared in one of the planks on the bridge. The bank's employees frequently use the walkway to access the bank's Sycamore Street parking lot across from Olde St. Andrews Church.

A subsequent investigation by the borough's public works contractor, Scott Dengler, found that two boards had rotted and broken through, and a half dozen more are saturated and rotting as well. He reported the condition as"unsafe."

As a result of Dengler's inspection, the borough closed the walkway Monday morning and placed barricades and cones at both ends of the span to prevent pedestrian access.

Borough officials said the Pennsylvania Department Of Transportation, which owns and maintains the bridge, has been notified.

The walkway provides a link between Sycamore Street in Newtown Township and the historic State Street business district in Newtown Borough.