A bridge closed and detoured in Mahoning Township this week may be worked on sooner than the 2032 date.

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

It is a state road, and not a township road, so township supervisors wanted to reach out to state Rep. Doyle Heffley about the situation.

“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.”

However, due to it being an emergency closure, that date could be bumped up, Heffley said Thursday afternoon.

Heffley said that while 2032 was the original estimate, it could be sooner than that.

“They are still getting preliminary reports from the engineering studies to see how that’s to proceed forward,” Heffley said. “I’ve heard from several residents and I share their concerns.”

Heffley said there is discussion to see what, if any actions can be taken to move the project forward before then.

“It was scheduled (for 2032), but in light of the emergency closure, I talked with PennDOT, and if at all possible, we’re going to be moving that up,” he said. “It will depend on when the estimates come in and see if it can repaired, of if it would need to be a replacement and if possible get it bumped up.”

Supervisors said at Wednesday’s meeting that the closure will impact travel time.

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.