Trail officials don’t know when the Dilling Bridge will be reopened, but are hoping to secure funding to return the bridge to use as soon as possible.

Located between mile markers 8 and 9, the bridge is near the midpoint of the 16.5-mile walking/biking trail that runs from Flowing Spring near Canoe Creek to Alfarata near Alexandria.

The bridge was marked for closure Aug. 29 following an inspection by Keller Engineers Inc.

“Three years ago they said the bridge may need work within the next ten years. After this inspection, they said the bridge is not in good shape and needs repairs, it needs to be restabilized and made secure enough to use,” said Adam Bergstein, president of Rails to Trails of Central Pennsylvania, a nonprofit organization which oversees the trail.

Bicyclists ignore a warning sign that the bridge between mile markers 8 and 9 of the Lower Trail is closed. An inspection revealed the bridge is in need of repairs. Mirror photo by Walt Frank

Bergstein said the bridge supports are showing signs of being worn down and the support system is losing some of its integrity.

The bridge was closed because “part of our governance is to make sure the trail is well maintained and viable. Our job is to make sure it is safe,” he said.

Steps are being taken to re-open the bridge, but it could be months.

Bergstein said Keller Engineers is conducting an assessment and drawing up a plan to repair the structure.

“We are filing for an emergency repair clearance that would allow us to move quicker and be eligible for different types of funding,” he said, adding he doesn’t have a cost estimate.

“It is speculative, but we are figuring hundreds of thousands of dollars,” he said.

Since the bridge is vital for trail users — there is no other safe way to cross from one section to another — officials are looking at how to get repairs done as quickly as possible.

“We are looking at funding that is timely, not taking nine to twelve months for us,” Bergstein said.

The bridge will be closed until it is deemed safe to re-open.

“I hope we are talking months, not years,” he said. “We need to get plans and quotes. I don’t want this to drag out.”

Although yellow tape and “sidewalk closed” signs have been placed in front of both ends, walkers and bikers are continuing to cross the bridge.

Bergstein said additional signage will be erected to state the bridge should not be used, but “we can’t prevent people from using it and if something happens, it is on them.”

“Our responsibility is to make sure people are safe and use it as intended,” he said.

The Rails to Trails group is still gathering information about the bridge and what is needed to get it reopened.

“We don’t have all of the facts yet,” he said. “We take our responsibility pretty seriously, we are doing everything in our ability to get this repaired and completely open again.”

Mirror Staff Writer Walt Frank is at 814-946-7467.