Mahoning Township officials are irked that a bridge closed and detoured this week will not be repaired until possibly 2032.

Supervisor Ronald Reeser said at Wednesday’s board of supervisors meeting that the township has received correspondence from the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation about the Hemlock Drive Bridge closing.

The Hemlock Drive Bridge over Stewart Creek will be closed between Stewart Creek Road and Orioles Drive and detoured.

“After a recent inspection, it was determined that due to extensive scour and abutment undermining, the structure must be closed,” said Scott Cressman, Acting County Maintenance Manager. “This bridge is now a project list with an estimated let in 2032.”

The detour will utilize Route 902, Route 443, Route 209, Packerton Dam Road, and Hemlock Drive.

The Hemlock Drive Bridge is a 17-feet-long, 20-feet-wide concrete slab bridge built in 1925.

Hemlock Drive has an average daily traffic of 419 vehicles.

Supervisors noted the matter will impact travel time.

Supervisor Myron Blahy added “Hemlock is an important road.”

Reeser added, “My phone is ringing off the hook.”

Feisty Fox Grille posted on Facebook Wednesday afternoon that the main access road (Hemlock Drive) to their business is closed about a half-mile up from them, but noted there are detour signs that will give patrons access from different points.

Rachel Sargent posted on Facebook that the situation was “complete (expletive). For how much we as taxpayers are taxed, fix this. Fix our damn roads.”

Township resident Allyson Andrews also took to Facebook to voice her displeasure over the situation.

“I’ve lived this life for one day and it is not OK,” Andrews posted.

Sargent replied to Andrews’ response.

“I bet. I took Packerton Dam Road to Lehighton and couldn’t believe the detour sign was up already.”

Andrews posted earlier in the week “2032!!!! Do better (PennDOT). This affects so many of us living in this area.”

She added, “Small businesses will suffer. Our elderly neighbors who may need emergency medical attention will suffer.

Andrews said school bus routes have changed because of the detour, requiring students to be on the bus longer.

“Our home values just went down because we’re stuck on an island with no good way out! The winter will be an absolute nightmare,” she added. “PennDOT knew that this bridge was a problem for years. It should have been put on the schedule five years ago.”