Funding Issues Delay Inverness Lane Bridge Reconstruction

Lower Moreland Township has announced the reconstruction of Inverness Lane Bridge will be delayed because of funding issues.

Assistant Township Manager Christopher Hoffman advised the Board of Commissioners to reject the current bids and to re-open the bidding process due to the uncertainty of financial support it will receive from grants.

“At this point we have some things to work through to guarantee that the 100-percent project funding will remain available,” Hoffman said. “Based on our conversations, I am confident that we’ll be able to work through these issues.”

Hoffman spoke to the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency and McMahon Associates, who had concerns whether or not the cost of replacing the bridge would fully be covered by the Public Assistance program in the aftermath of Tropical Storm Lee.

Hoffman said he was confident that 100-percent of the funds will still be covered through the rebidding process, and Township President Robert Demartinis believes the bidding process will take place very soon.

“This is more of a technicality that has to have one more extra approval process with PEMA,” Demartinis said. “We authorize a re-bid, which hopefully will take place (this week)."

In 2012 the Board of Commissioners received notice that Federal and State grant funds have been approved for the replacement of the Inverness Lane Bridge at a cost of $96,685. The bridge was closed in March of 2011.