State Recognizes Bridge Partnership In Genesee Township

Genesee Township in northern Potter County is being recognized for a do-it-yourself public/private partnership that resulted in the replacement of two bridges at considerable savings to taxpayers. A brief ceremony was held this week to cut a ceremonial ribbon at the Cemetery Hill Bridge and to recognize some of the people who were responsible for an achievement that is receiving statewide recognition.

Members of the Genesee Township Board of Supervisors took matters into their own hands when it came to addressing serious structural deficiencies with the aging bridges on Cemetery Road and Rag Hill Road. Faced with several expensive options to restore or replace the bridges, Supervisors Butch Calcote, Bill Elliott and Dick Cornell worked out a plan to build state-approved boxed culverts to carry traffic over two stream sections.

Genesee Township was fortunate, in that the supervisors themselves possessed the skills to perform much of the work. If the township would have been required to contract for this work, the cost to the taxpayers would have been much higher. The township had to adhere to construction specifications, as well as environmental regulations covering stream diversions and equipment operation in the stream beds and banks.

The Cemetery Hill Bridge was washed out due to major flooding. To save money, the township decided to replace the deteriorating Rag Hill Road bridge at the same time. PennDOT’s Randy Albert was on hand for this week’s ribbon-cutting and commended the township for setting an example that others across the state could follow. He was impressed with the tenacity and level of expertise that the township supervisors demonstrated.

Supervisor Bill Elliott expressed his appreciation to Potter County Commissioners Doug Morley, Paul Heimel and Susan Kefover, and State Representative Martin Causer, for continued support of municipal projects covered by the highly competitive Transportation Improvement Program and the Dirt and Gravel Roads Program. He also thanked PennDOT, Northcentral Pa. Regional Planning and Development Commission, Potter County Conservation District’s Jack Fleckenstein, Larsen Design, County Planning Director Charlotte Dietrich, Township Roadmaster Tim Elliott, and all others who helped.

Above, Township Secretary Sue Williams (left), Rep. Causer’s district aide Suzan Paisley (right) and Commissioner Doug Morley (third from left) participate in the ribbon-cutting with the bridge crew.