Published: June 23, 2008 11:54 am      

Bridge Builders

Oakland project unites roads and community

OAKLAND - After being closed for nearly eight years, the bridge at Third Street is finally being rebuilt after several delays held up the replacement of the condemned bridge.

"After way too long of a delay period, we've finally got things under way," Jay Moyer, Oakland Town council member, said. "We've had some delays because of weather, but it looks like the contractor is doing an excellent job. We're moving forward as quickly as possible."

Last month, demolition began on the bridge, and now, construction has started.

Dwight Emory, Garrett County engineer, said construction so far has gone smoothly, however, the work must be done around the CSX train schedule. As the bridge crosses over two CSX train tracks, he said they have flagmen who ensure that construction crews are not working while the trains are traveling over the tracks.

The new bridge, Emory said, will have several improvements over the old one, including making it a two-way bridge, rather than the former one-way bridge. It also will have lighting to match the rest of the town as well as a similar brick facade to the B&O train station and the Oak Street bridge. The new bridge will feature walkways for pedestrians as well.

He added there would be better water drainage. Emory explained the previous bridge had not had a proper drain system, and water simply ran off it.

Moyer said if construction continues at the same speed, weather cooperating, the bridge could be complete by the end of summer or early fall 2009.

"It's a big relief for me," Oakland Mayor Asa McCain said. "People have been venting their frustrations on me for almost 10 years about the bridge. It's hard to explain the difficulties that come with dealing with that many parties."

McCain said delays in getting the project started were due to right of way issues with area property owners and utility permits with CSX. The bridge housed utilities for Columbia Gas, Allegheny Power, Fibernet, Verizon and Suddenlink. All, he said, had to get permits to relocate elsewhere across the train tracks.

He said while the construction is just starting, work to get the bridge replaced has been a continuous effort.

McCain said he will not be the only person who is pleased to see the bridge finally come into place, but that he's heard from residents looking forward to having their former route through town restored.

Robert Oberlander Sr., Oakland resident, said he was definitely seeing progress on the bridge.

"My observation has been that it has been moving along, in the visible sense, swimmingly," Oberlander said. "The visible part makes people believe that it's just finally starting, but as someone who has regularly attended the town meetings, there was nothing that could be done before. On a personal level, it's been frustrating that people claim that nothing has been done to replace the bridge. It's been misrepresented."

The funding for the nearly $2.28 million bridge project is being provided through $1.82 million in federal bridge funding, $50,000 county funding and $407,002 funding from the town of Oakland.

Monty Pagenhardt, county administrator, said the county also had the "primary engineering responsibility for the project at significant cost."

Contact Sarah Moses at smoses@times-news.com.