Off and on for two decades, PennDOT developed and proposed plans to bypass the bridge with a new, wider modern structure. Meanwhile, the Mortonville Bridge went largely neglected and, once the new bridge was built, its fate would be uncertain. PennDOT suggested the bridge could become a pedestrian bridge and offered it through its Adopt-A-Bridge Program, but had no takers. So, in all likelihood the historic bridge would become "demolished by neglect."
Following nomination of the Mortonville bridge – as a case study highlighting the threat to many historic bridges throughout the Commonwealth – to Preservation Pennsylvania's 2005 Endangered Historic Resources List, PennDOT announced that the Mortonville Bridge would instead receive a "substantial rehabilitation" including a widening of up to 4 feet. Nearby residents and East Fallowfield Township representatives are thrilled with this announcement, as to them the bridge is a historic part of their community, acts as a traffic calming feature along Strasburg Road, and the alternative of new bridge construction would have significant, undesirable environmental and community impacts.
Even though PennDOT's pledge to rehab the bridge had been made, in late 2005, Preservation Pennsylvania accepted the nomination of the Mortonville Bridge to its 2005 Endangered list in order to draw attention to the issues that potentially affect other historic bridges across the state.
I recieved information that this bridge is to be de-listed from the National Register of Historic Places, suggesting that the recent so-called rehabilitation project was more of a demolish, replace then decorate the replacement bridge with stones from the historic bridge sort of deal.
PENNSYLVANIA, CHESTER COUNTY,
Mortonville Bridge,
Straburg Rd.,
Coatesville vicinity, 85002392,
REMOVED, 7/16/10
(Strasburg Road TR;East Fallowfield Township MRA)