The current Route 903 bridge is scheduled to come down, but a potential buyer has come forward.

Pennsylvania Department of Transportation officials confirmed this week that discussions are taking place with Andy Muller, Reading and Northern Railroad owner, regarding a sale of the structure after a new, $28 million bridge opens 1,000 feet upstream on the Lehigh River.“No other information is available at this time,” said Ron Young, PennDOT spokesman.All along, the replacement project has called for the current bridge to be demolished with the timeline dependent on the opening of the new bridge.On May 12, Carbon County Commissioner Chairman Wayne Nothstein wrote a letter to PennDOT, announcing their support for a sale to Muller.“Since the inception of the bridge replacement project,” Nothstein wrote, “numerous citizens have voiced their concerns regarding the removal of the old bridge once the new bridge is put into operation. The consensus was to maintain the bridge as a walking bridge but, of course, without funds to maintain the structure, neither the county nor the borough could undertake the task. I support the proposal by Mr. Muller to obtain ownership of the bridge and hope the department will look favorably upon the request.”Commissioners Tom Gerhard and William O’Gurek did not voice their support.Young said Wednesday the new bridge is on track to open in early July.“The timeline has always been for us to complete the new bridge, move traffic over and demolish the old bridge by July of 2017,” PennDOT spokesman Sean Brown said in September.The current bridge was constructed in 1953 and rehabilitated in 1976.It is a 613-foot long by 27-foot wide five-span steel girder bridge, and has approximately 9,681 vehicles travel across it daily.While Nothstein may be in favor of Muller buying the bridge, Jim Thorpe Borough Council is not. Council members unanimously adopted a motion Thursday night to send a letter to PennDOT stating they want the bridge torn down and no liability should it fall into private hands.“The state is spending all that money on a new bridge and they have a great reason why,” said Councilman Jay Miller.“PennDOT knows a lot more than us and it was their recommendation the bridge should come down. I’m not interested in someone’s personal endeavors.”Todd Konstas of Summit Hill presented council with a 190-signature petition to save the bridge.He envisions a project to similar to the High Line in New York City.“That was an abandoned railroad that they turned into a really nice walkway and park,” Konstas said. “I know the borough can’t take it on, but if someone came in with the money and a vision for that, it could be something special.”Jim Thorpe Solicitor James Nanovic said while the bridge does not belong to the borough, if someone buys it and lets it fall into disrepair, the municipality could have liability.“The concrete on that bridge is done,” Councilman John McGuire said last week. “You’d almost have to rebuild it. It’s only going to cause problems and I don’t see how it can’t come back to haunt us.”State Rep. Doyle Heffley said Muller runs a great business, but has two main concerns about the bridge falling into anyone’s hands.“One is public safety and two is that I would want to see some type of secure bond so that in the future, when this bridge needs to be demolished, it doesn’t come back on the taxpayers,” Heffley said.PennDOT did not give an estimate on a sale price should it choose to go that route.Miller, however, said the demolition part of the contract was a $1.4 million item and that doesn’t count the scraps the contractor was counting on from the work.Muller did not return a phone call seeking comment.