Llanfair bridge project will mean 8-mile detour

By RANDY GRIFFITH
The Tribune-Democrat

DUNLO January 28, 2009 11:32 pm

— A bridge replacement project scheduled this summer could cause big headaches for part of this community.
Residents in the Llanfair area will face an eight-mile detour when PennDOT’s bridge team begins work along Llanfair Road in June, Lance K. Eckenrode, assistant district bridge engineer, told residents Wednesday at a public meeting.
“We realize any detour is going to be an inconvenience to the traveling public,” Eckenrode said in the Dunlo fire hall.
“But to have a run-around here, economically it would be more expensive than the bridge itself.”
The depth of the creek gorge, compounded by surrounding utility lines, ruled out any temporary public bypass, Eckenrode explained.
He noted the road’s average daily traffic is 389 vehicles.
Signs will direct drivers from Llanfair Road onto Krayn Road to Forest Hills Drive through Salix, then onto Pleasant Valley Road back into Dunlo.
Dunlo Volunteer Fire Company leaders urged the state agency to consider a temporary shortcut.
“You are cutting a community in half by not having an emergency bridge,” Assistant Chief Frank Hribar said.
Replacing the 82-year-old bridge should only take eight weeks, Eckenrode said. Unlike some other projects, the work is not being turned over to a contractor.
“This bridge is going to be a project of the Cambria County bridge crew,” Eckenrode said. “It’s going to be an in-house job.”
Foreman Jonathan Strayer said his crew will dedicate itself to Llanfair for the duration of the project.
“The day they close it, we’ll start,” Strayer said. “We’ll be there five days a week for the whole job, from start to finish.”
Fire Chief Rick Gdula said he will coordinate with other fire companies to assure prompt response to emergencies.
Beaverdale, Windber, Richland Township and St. Michael fire companies already respond to larger fires and other emergencies in the Llanfair neighborhood.
“They will be upgraded to any type of call in that area,” Gdula said.
Many Llanfair residents get their mail at the Dunlo post office, Adams Township Supervisor Dennis Gdula said. For some senior citizens, it is a daily social ritual.
“That’s a pretty good detour to get your mail,” Gdula said.
Lloyd Street resident George Rachael, 84, said he watches Llanfair traffic from his porch swing.
“There has been a lot of vehicles go over that bridge,” Rachael said. “When it comes down, I’d like to be around to give it a salute.”