After more than six months of construction and traffic detours, the Route 724 bridge over Allegheny Creek in Robeson Township reopened Thursday morning, October 29, marking the completion of a $2.8 million replacement project.
State Rep. Mark Gillen joined township officials, representatives from the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT), construction workers, and community members for a brief ceremony on the newly completed bridge. The event recognized the work involved in replacing the aging structure and the patience of residents and businesses affected by the extended closure.
The bridge, located along Route 724, also known as Main Street, had been closed since April 20 between Route 568 and Annon Street. During construction, passenger vehicles were detoured along Gibraltar Road, U.S. Route 422, and Interstate 176, while commercial trucks followed a separate route using Route 345.
Speaking to those gathered Thursday, Gillen acknowledged the inconvenience the closure caused and credited community members with bringing attention to the project’s importance.
“This community made this happen. You shared with me your concerns about getting this road open as quickly as possible,” Gillen said.
Gillen explained that he contacted PennDOT officials and arranged a visit with Pennsylvania Transportation Secretary Mike Carroll in August to review transportation concerns in the area. During that visit, the two traveled through the community, stopped at the bridge construction site, and examined conditions along nearby Route 422.
Gillen said PennDOT delivered the bridge project on schedule, completing construction within the originally anticipated October 2026 timeframe.
Robeson Township Board of Supervisors Chairman Timothy Bitler also addressed the crowd, thanking Gillen for his involvement in keeping the project moving and residents informed throughout construction.
Bitler recognized township manager Osmer Deming, the township police department, and public works employees for their efforts during the closure. He acknowledged that the project had presented significant challenges for residents and particularly for businesses affected by the disruption in traffic.
“I know it’s been a burden and a challenge for the citizens,” Bitler said, adding that local businesses had suffered as well.
He described the reopening as an example of what can be accomplished through communication and cooperation between government agencies, local officials, and residents.
“You know, metaphorically speaking, bridges are structures that span something — a railroad, a stream, or something else — but it also means an opportunity to get from one side to the other side,” Bitler said, emphasizing the importance of people coming together around a common goal.
The project replaced a single-span steel I-beam bridge originally constructed in 1956 with a new single-span pre-stressed concrete beam structure. The original bridge measured 73 feet long and 41 feet wide, while the replacement measures 76 feet long and maintains the same width.
Additional improvements included reconstruction of the roadway approaches, installation of guide rails, and slope stabilization. According to PennDOT, approximately 12,618 vehicles travel this section of Route 724 daily.
Lobar Site Development Corporation served as the general contractor for the approximately $2.8 million project.
During the ceremony, Gillen recognized PennDOT personnel, including Christopher Kufro, along with project engineers and construction workers who completed the replacement. He also highlighted the project’s safety record, saying he had been informed that no workers suffered reportable injuries or lost workdays during construction, despite the heavy equipment and challenging conditions involved.
Gillen invited the workers in attendance to raise their hands so the crowd could recognize their contributions.
“These are Pennsylvania workers putting together an exceptional project for the service of the public,” Gillen said, encouraging another round of applause for the construction crews.
The representative also shared that several community members had suggested names for the newly completed bridge. Offering his own informal suggestion, Gillen proposed calling it the “People’s Bridge,” recognizing the taxpayers who funded the project and the residents who advocated for its completion.
“I said all along, the taxpayers paid for this bridge. So how about the People’s Bridge?” Gillen asked, drawing a positive response from those gathered. No formal naming announcement was made.
As the ceremony concluded, Gillen emphasized that the successful completion of the bridge should serve as an example for addressing other transportation needs in southern Berks County, including improvements along Route 422 and Route 10.
“This is what we can produce as a community when we work together,” Gillen said.
The reopening restores a key transportation connection for residents, commuters, and businesses after months of detours and construction.