Salt must go before bridge project begins

We know that too much salt is bad for your health, but it can be bad for the health of concrete structures, also. Rock salt (sometimes called “road salt” due to its use on icy roads) currently being stored under the Veterans Memorial Bridge may be contributing to spalling and cracking on bridge piers in close proximity to the salt pile, and PennDOT may require the borough to move the salt in the near future. At Columbia Borough Council’s Meeting of the Whole last Monday, Mayor Lutz stated the need for a pole barn or shed to contain the salt. The salt is used by borough and school district maintenance personnel. Lutz said that in the next year or two the bridge will undergo the largest bridge restoration project in Pennsylvania.

  A salt pile under the Veterans Memorial Bridge

 Deterioration at the base of a pier near the salt pile

 Spalling and cracking on one of the soldier piers, shown here and below

Tires slashed on 30 vehicles in Columbia – LancasterOnline

Tires were slashed on about 30 vehicles in Columbia Borough, apparently sometime Friday evening, according to police. 
Police said they began getting calls about 9 p.m. and found vehicles with slashed tires in the following streets:
200 block of South Second Street; 200 block of Lawrence Street; Mill Street; Furnace Avenue; the 1100 and 1200 blocks of Manor Street; 600 block of South 11th and 14th streets and the 1300 block of Central Avenue.
Damage is estimated in the thousands of dollars.
Anyone with information is asked to contact Columbia Borough Police Department at 717-684-7735.

What I saw today – December 18, 2014

Workers were at it again today at the Columbia Plaza project.  Even the cold winds didn’t slow them down.

 The section on the left looks to be almost finished. The facade is looking more like the Veterans Memorial Bridge each day.

Meanwhile, in town . . .

 Locust Street, and Eddie Shupp is showing photographs
Of every head he’s had the pleasure to know,
And all the people that come and go
Stop and say hello.
 And catty-corner from Shupp’s – what’s this?

The sidewalk is closed?