Washington County Abandoning Bridges

Washington County Commissioner voted Wednesday to abandon several bridges throughout the county. The Hawkins Bridge in Deemston, the Elliot Bridge in Smith Township will be taken over by individual property owners. The Nathan and Noble Bridges in Blaine Township will be taken over by the Pennsylvania Game Commission. The county will be responsible for the removal and disposal of the main girders and superstructures of those bridges before the Game Commission assumes ownership. Those costs will be covered by Act 44 funds. Commissioner Chairwoman Diana Irey-Vaughn calls the moves merely a bookkeeping measure. The bridges have limited use to the county and the property owners were willing to assume all responsibilities.