SHAMOKIN - The city of Shamokin was approved by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) for reimbursement of an additional $12,500 to construct and install a new pedestrian bridge spanning Shamokin Creek near Mulberry and Franklin streets to replace the old one that was damaged in the Flood of 2011.
With the approval, the $103,967 foot bridge project will take six to eight weeks to build and install. County officials expect the project will be finished by year's end, Northumberland County engineer Charles Hopta Jr. said.
The project was also given a six-month extension until March 8, but Hopta said officials want the project completed much sooner so there is no need to apply for any further extensions.
Since the bridge is county-owned, the Northumberland County commissioners awarded a $73,967 contract to T-Ross Brothers Construction Inc. at their Tuesday meeting.
The county has already paid $30,000 to remove the old bridge and create designs for the new project, Hopta said.
The bridge was removed in August by Doli Construction, Chalfont, which is working in the creek channel as part of a sewer authority project.
Although the project cost totals $103,967, it was originally approved for $91,431 in reimbursement from FEMA, meaning either the city would have had to come up with an additional $12,536 if FEMA hadn't approved it.
The construction of the bridge, which is 55 feet long and 4 feet wide, will be done off-site, Hopta said.
When the structure is completed, it will be brought to the location near Mulberry Street and installed, he said.
In an agreement between the county and the city, the county found the funding to replace the bridge and will transfer ownership to the city once it is built, Hopta said.