Predict bridge fix by New Year's

POND EDDY - The old bridge should be fixed by the end of the old year. PennDOT spokesperson Karen Dussinger reported Wednesday that with the completion of the work, the load rating for the 102 year-old interstate bridge will be restored to seven tons. The bridge connects some 26 Shohola Township homes on the Pennsylvania shore to the only area highway access, across the Delaware in New York. The higher limit will once again allow heavier fire and emergency vehicle access, which has been curtailed since the load reduction was posted after an October inspection. Dussinger also reported that demolition of the superstructure of the old Shohola-Barryville bridge is complete. Weather permitting, final stage work on the new bridge is resuming.