Arcola Bridge Reopens After 3-Year Closure
by Jim Melwert
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- A three-year headache of a detour has come to an end in Montgomery County.
The Arcola Road Bridge in Collegeville reopened with a ribbon cutting that drew dozens of relieved residents out to celebrate.
"It is time to get the Arcola Road Bridge opened!" said Commissioner Josh Shapiro, joined by other elected officials at the ribbon cutting that ended a three-year closure closure of a bridge in an area of Montgomery County that grew up with business parks and multiple housing developments, but with little to no investment in infrastructure.
"We call it being stuck the island. So if you cross this bridge you get to the mainland and that's what we've felt for the past three years," said Matt Roeger, one of dozens of residents who attended the ribbon cutting.
Even former county commissioner, now PennDOT secretary Leslie Richards was surprised by the turnout.
"I do hundreds of these across the commonwealth, this is a pretty good crowd," she said.
State Rep Mike Vereb was key in moving the project forward crossing party lines to get it done.
"When you go to the polls or to the supermarket, no one cares. They want these bridges open and they want these bridges safe," he said.
The Arcola Road bridge closed in August 2013 when it failed inspection. The new bridge features a pedestrian walkway for access to the Perkiomen Trail.