LUZERNE COUNTY (WBRE/WYOU) — A well-known Luzerne County bridge is the focus of lots of questions and complaints from residents and it all has to do with trash.
The Carey Avenue Bridge links the Hanover township-Wilkes-Barre area to the west side of the Wyoming Valley at Larksville. People reached out to the I-team asking for us to look into the situation.
The bridge is cleaned up now, but that was not the case Wednesday. In fact PennDOT crews were sent to clean up the trash shortly after we reached out to PennDOT about the situation. Residents we spoke with say. This trashy situation is unacceptable.
"This is a memorial bridge to our 109th field artillery and it's dedicated to the veterans just the appearance of it is a disgrace. Not only to the veterans but everybody that crosses it every day," said Bob Burns from Hanover Township.
Bob Burns says he could not believe the amount of trash on the Carey Avenue Bridge.
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"I walk it every morning and I've seen progressively over the last several months how worse it has gotten. The garbage just lining the storm drains blocking the storm drains. Just water flow when we get rain," says Burns.
Thousands of vehicles use the Carey Avenue Bridge each day to travel from Hanover Township to Larksville. State Representative Alec Ryncavage tells the I-team he wants to see more attention paid by the state to this bridge.
"Unfortunately what we are seeing many vehicles hauling materials travel this bridge uncovered. This is contributing to the growing problem with trash. But more than that that bridge suffers from vegetation overgrowth, deteriorating cement, and lack of safe pedestrian access," explained Rep. Ryncavage (r) 119th.
Shortly after the I-team contacted PennDOT for comment on the trash problem. PennDOT crews were sent to pick up the trash. A PennDOT spokesperson says the bridge is on a regular cleaning schedule and blames the problem on littering.
The department reminds motorists that littering takes our maintenance crews away from other core activities that we are performing daily to maintain our assets. We urge all motorists to do their part in keeping our roadways safe and clean.
Jessica Ruddy- PennDOT spokesperson
State representative Alec Ryncavage says he is also pushing state leaders to take a serious look at the Carey Avenue Bridge, for possible redesign work to make it safer for vehicles and pedestrians.
