Bristol Township Council in a show of being good neighbors last week approved a motion to pay for half the cost of the electric arms to be installed at the Green Lane overpass that Bristol Borough plans on installing in the near future as a preventive flooding measure.
Township Manager Randee Mazur explained that Bristol Borough Council has taken ownership of the area and earlier in the month approved the installation of emergency flashing barriers at the underpass.
Mazur said Bristol Borough would staff the barrier since the arms must be manually operated.
We own one one portion of Green Lane, the southbound travel lane and the borough owns the the northbound travel lane the borough has used its public works and first responders to set up barricades every time it rains. They’ve been relentlessly trying to work with Amtrak and with PennDOT to get some relief from the flooding there, Mazur said.
Credit: Sunshine Foundation
“This is a temporary fix” Mazur noted.
In recent years Bristol Borough Fire Association first responders saved one couple trapped at the flooded out underpass, with a second incident occurring recently, in which the motorist and passenger extricated themselves safely.
The Borough has been looking into ways and means to offset flooding on the “state owned” roadway for several years, engaging PennDOT through state officials, conducting a study, and speaking with officials of the railway company. According to the Borough, PennDOT recognizes Green Lane is a state owned road, but says the locality is responsible for maintaining it.
Gilmore and Associates said the entire storm water system and piping needs to be replaced. The costs could run as high as $10 million to replace the system that dates back to the early 1900’s, officials said.
Council approved the motion unanimously to pay half the cost of up t0 $20,000.
The electric arm barriers are expected to be in place by spring of 2026.