Lehigh Times

A state grant has been allocated for the replacement of the Buckery Road Bridge in Heidelberg Township. The announcement was made by Representative Ryan Mackenzie, who played a key role in securing the funding.

The grant, amounting to nearly $541,000, will be used to construct a new bridge over a tributary of the Little Lehigh River. The original bridge suffered severe damage from Tropical Storm Isaias in August 2020 and has been closed since then.

"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 funds were provided through the Local Share Account (LSA) program. This initiative distributes gaming revenue to support community and economic development projects. Approval for this grant came from the Commonwealth Financing Authority, an independent agency responsible for overseeing funding programs aimed at Pennsylvania's economic growth.