Newtown Sewers - Gradyville Bridge

The township has submitted its Sewage Facility Planning Module (537 Plan) to the PA Department of Environmental Protection, this plan has been recently approved. Yet:

Homes on Llangollen, Gradyville Road, Sleepy Hollow, Springton Pointe Drive, Frog Hollow and portions of Bishop Hollow have been deferred to sometime in the future, while areas such as the Newtown Corporate Center and yet to be approved commercial property have been included in the plan to receive public sewers now. Capacity for commercial property seems to take precedence over your private property.

Springton Pointe Estates and Springton Pointe Woods are scheduled to receive sewage pumping stations to handle sewage from outside their immediate area, while the township refuses to limit the burden on these communities by transferring this sewage via West Chester Pike and Route 252.

The township also plans to run sewer pipes along Reeses Run, Preston Run and under Hunter’s Run rather than running them down roadways. There seems to be no thought for the ecology of the township.

All of us continue to suffer because the Gradyville Bridge was allowed to deteriorate to the point that it had to be shut down because it was deemed unsafe.

I am the only candidate for Supervisor who has been actively following the status of this bridge for many years. I have spoken at various township meetings, and I periodically follow-up with PENNDOT. I have not waited until I was a candidate to get involved or comment on the issue.

As the bridge began to deteriorate years ago, the township solution was to put orange reflective traffic barrels where the deck was crumbling. First one, then two, then three.

During these years I periodically asked the previous Township Manager when the bridge was going to be replaced or repaired; the answer was always next Spring or next Fall. The township supervisors do a yearly road inspection survey, this should not be new issue to them.

The township is blaming the new sewer line from Edgemont to Rt. 252, and the AQUA pipeline for delaying the construction. Actually the township could have replaced the bridge years before this sewer project even started. PENNDOT is paying for the majority of the bridge replacement, and the plans were already ninety percent complete at the time the bridge was closed.

This small township owned bridge is taking over two years to complete, while the massive stone bridge on St. Davids Road was completed by PENNDOT in a few months. Springton Pointe Estates and Springton Pointe Woods have had to endure unnecessary traffic due to this lengthy construction process. Consider the cost of gasoline and time that you have wasted circumventing the closed bridge.

I am a candidate willing to represent you and all of Newtown Square. Remember you have to vote to see a change, please vote on Tuesday November 5th. Comments can be addressed to raymondlopez2013@yahoo.com .