The House and Senate are going different ways to free up more state money for municipal bridge projects.

The two chambers passed separate bills tapping different money pots for that purpose.

The House acted most recently approving House Bill 2437 by a unanimous vote on June 9.

The bill sponsored by Rep. Nathan Davidson, D-Dauphin, allows a portion of Marcell Shale drilling impact fee revenue to fund county and municipal bridge repairs.

The bill, if enacted, would let counties make repairs to local bridges before they reach critical risk.

HB2437 gives counties more flexibility to rebuild bridges effectively, according to the County Commissioners Association of Pennsylvania.

Senate bills

The Senate last year voted 49-1 for Senate Bill 1070 and voted unanimously for Senate Bill 205 sponsored by Sen. Greg Rothman, R-Cumberland, addressing bridge projects.

SB1070 lets counties use money from a bridge account in the state Motor License Fund to pay for municipal bridge projects. Currently, counties can only use the account for county-owned bridges.

SB205 lets counties supplemental bridge funding and liquid fuel allocations for municipal bridge projects as well. State transportation funding laws enacted in 2013 and 2007 appropriate $5 million annually for county bridge repairs.

The action on local bridge bills comes Gov. Josh Shapiro’s push for a comprehensive transportation funding program for mass transit and roads and bridges stalled last year because of partisan disagreements.

Pennsylvania has thousands of state, county and municipal bridges crossing its numerous streams.

Providing for their upkeep and repair has been a major concern for decades now.