Year: 2023

The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation has implemented a weight limit on the Route 462 bridge between Columbia, Lancaster County, and Wrightsville, York County.

This new restriction will limit the weight of each vehicle to 10 tons.

According to PennDOT, the limit was put in place after a routine inspection revealed deterioration to the primary load-carrying members of the open spandrel concrete arch spans along portions of the bridge.

PennDOT said it’s working towards interim repairs and will re-evaluate the restriction while repairs are being made.

The weight limit will reduce strain on the bridge and ensure safe passage until more significant interim repairs can occur, PennDOT said.

Because of the necessity to change the design scope of work on the bridge – now potentially including bridge deck, floor beam and column replacement – work on the bridge for the permanent condition is now not expected to happen until 2025.

The Route 462 bridge, built in 1930, is classified as being in fair condition.https://www.wgal.com/article/lancaster-york-counties-route-462-bridge-new-weight-limit/44568920#

Francisco E. Morales conveyed 153 S. Fourth St. to QP Invest Property Grp LLC for $146,601.

Jessica Mann conveyed property on Third Street to Nathaniel W. Sload for $150,000.

This week’s photos of Columbia

(Click/tap on photos to see larger, sharper images.)

Bike brigade at the cul-de-sac

It was so hot this week that this crow appears to be exhaling smoke.

Even these dogs were trying to beat the heat.

In fact, this skeleton was stripped down as far as you can go, wearing only a grass skirt and flowers.

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The tower at the Watch & Clock Museum

Ground cover

A sort of mini-Stonehenge at Columbia River Park

Yep, they’re here.

Late afternoon sky

Finally replacing the utility pole at Commerce & Walnut

Here’s a closer look.

The Habitat for Humanity project on South 5th is still moving along.

Escaping the bars in Avenue N

Datestone of the former Union & Fourth Street Market House, now St. Peter’s Apartments

Two more beer vats came through town on Friday as they did previously, as Columbia Spy reported HERE.

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One of the hearses from the Postmortem Hearse Club event at Mount Bethel Cemetery on Saturday.

Saturday assemblage

This machine was being used to take soil samples along the Veterans Memorial Bridge this week.

Here are some of the core drills.

Here’s the machine in action.

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Must be time to sit a spell.

Surveying the church grounds at 291 South 4th Street

The white house across the river isn’t on fire. That’s just a cloud creeping up behind it.

Farmall tractor for sale on Bridge Street

Army veteran

When: Columbia Council meeting, July 11.

What happened: The council voted unanimously to spend up to $26,000 to buy 10 portable radios for borough staff. The radios will be purchased through the same contract being used to buy police radios at a substantial discount.

Background: At the June 13 meeting, council approved a $75,000 purchase of 25 dual-band police radios that, for the first time, would allow Columbia police officers to communicate directly with officers across the Susquehanna River in York County without the need to be patched in, which causes delays. That purchase takes advantage of a discount that shaved $75,000 off the total cost.

Rationale: Borough Manager Mark Stivers said that, after approval of the police radio purchase, officials determined the need to keep radio equipment consistent with the borough’s public works and code compliance departments and emergency management coordinator. This would allow public works crews to talk to York County during joint special events or if the Route 462/Veterans Memorial Bridge would be closed for any reason.

[Source: LNP]  

Supporters of legalizing recreational marijuana use say the introduction of several bills this session in the Legislature hints at progress in their efforts. Still, many legislators from Lancaster County will likely oppose any marijuana-related bills brought to a vote.

One who supports approving adult use of marijuana, state Rep. Izzy Smith-Wade-El, supported reduced penalties for marijuana possession when he served on Lancaster City Council and now hopes to reform marijuana policy statewide.

Republicans Scott Martin and Ryan Aument do not support recreational use.

MORE:

https://lancasteronline.com/news/politics/lancaster-republican-lawmakers-will-likely-reject-recreational-marijuana-proposals-but-a-local-democrat-says-the/article_b7133b9a-20ef-11ee-91bd-77b608a7320c.html

The meeting packet is HERE.

Shortly before 3 p.m. today (7/10/23), Columbia Borough issued a notice that Avenue K is closed and to avoid the area. Here’s why:

Two houses, 154 and 156 South 5th Street (at the corner of Avenue K), were demolished today. The properties were severely damaged in a July 22, 2022 fire.

Only the upper part of the 400 block of Avenue K, from Pleasant Avenue to 5th Street, is closed.

Debris from today’s demolition at 154 and 156 South 5th Street, as seen from the 400 block of Avenue K

The Lancaster County Land Bank Authority plans to have four new rental units built on the site, according to LNP HERE. The Authority will use $500,000 of $2.2 million for Lancaster County from the state’s Housing Trust Fund.

The houses as they appeared two days after the fire