A Bucks County-owned bridge in East Rockhill Township reopened with new meaning this week after the county Commissioners and township officials came together to name the span in memory of a Bucks resident killed during the Vietnam War.

Known previously as County Bridge #279, the LCP Kenneth G. Worman, US Army Memorial Bridge linking West Rock and Three Mile Run roads reopened to traffic Monday after 140 days out of service.

“This is starting what we hope will be a new tradition,” said Commissioner Chair Bob Harvie, referring to the county administration’s goal to name county-owned bridges after county residents who made the ultimate sacrifice in Vietnam.

Commissioner Harvie credited the idea to Penndel resident Ed Preston. The two met over the summer as Preston worked with PennDOT to dedicate a different bridge to U.S. Marine Corps Private First-Class John Elton Candy, who also died while serving in the Vietnam War.

“[Mr. Preston] told me that he would like to do this for more bridges,” Harvie added, “and I said, ‘Well, we have a lot of bridges.’”

Monday’s dedication ceremony was attended by friends and family of Worman, including the late soldier’s brother Dennis Worman, himself a U.S. Marine Corps veteran of the Vietnam War. As children, the brothers lived near to the bridge now named for Kenneth Worman.

“My brother played football and was your average kid growing up,” Worman said. “So, when they asked him to go into the army, he said, ‘Sure, why not me?’”

Kenneth Worman lived in Silverdale and graduated from Pennridge High School. He was killed in action May 22, 1967, at just 20 years old. He was awarded the Bronze Star Medal and the Purple Heart.

The 78-foot bridge over Three Mile Run was closed to traffic June 27, and underwent replacement of its deck and beams and retrofitting of existing abutments, as well as improvements to safety features including signage and guiderails.

Construction on the bridge was performed by Eastern Highway Specialists, Inc., with engineering work for Carroll Engineering Corporation.

Assistance to the project in its final stages was provided by Bucks County Projects and Diversity Officer Bernard Griggs.

Improvements to the bridge cost approximately $972,000.