HARRISBURG – A state grant was awarded today for replacement of the Buckery Road Bridge in Heidelberg Township, announced Rep. Ryan Mackenzie (R-Lehigh), who advocated for the funding.

The grant of nearly $541,000 will go toward construction of a new bridge over a tributary of the Little Lehigh River which was severely damaged by Tropical Storm Isaias in August 2020 and closed to traffic.

“For more than four years, township residents have been forced to detour around the bridge. The detour has also negatively impacted school bus routes and caused delays in emergency response times,” said Mackenzie. “In addition, the deteriorating bridge continues to pollute the creek with sediment and debris, affecting its status as a high-quality, cold-water fishery. I am pleased this project can finally move forward with help from Harrisburg.”

The grant was made available through the Local Share Account (LSA) program, which is designed to distribute funds derived from gaming revenue to support community and economic development projects.

The grant was approved by the Commonwealth Financing Authority, which was established as an independent agency that holds fiduciary responsibility over the funding of programs and investments in Pennsylvania’s economic growth.

Information provided to TVL by:
Andy Briggs