With a closed firefighters of the firefighters, all eyes are aimed at Pittston's new design, which honors fallen heroes while connects two communities.
West Pittston, Pa. – With a closed bridge, another bears the additional load. The fire bridge over the Susquehanna River has been closed since 2021 after failed inspection. When traffic is pushed onto the nearby Dale J. Kridlo Memorial Bridge, West Pittston neighbor, the neighbors say that it is only a matter of time until security scores a goal.
“Now a bridge, the traffic, it's terrible, it is dangerous, I feel bad for the hikers, the bikers and the mothers with strollers,” said Gina Malsky, a resident of West Pittston.
When the closure comes to your fourth year, plans for a replacement range take shape.
“We didn't want to do something that was simply not two or three -lane motorway over the river.
For the mayor of Pittston, Mike Lombardo, the Memorial Bridge of the fire brigade is more than steel and arches. It is a tribute to his brother John Lombardo and his firefighter Lenny Insalaco, who died in 1993. The draft created by the architect Michelle Dempsey should reflect this bravery and stand prominently between the two communities.
“These are the arches on the bridge; they are respectfully made with those who exist. But they also represent the waves of the water and they also represent the arch of a fire hose. So there is a really cool meaning,” said Lombardo.
Lombardo said it's not just about shape, but also about function. It focuses on the accessibility between Pittston and West Pittston with wider sidewalks in order to better combine the two communities. The residents say they strive for vision to become a reality.
“I think it's great, it's beautiful. I think the design is great. I just hope that we have to see it to see it,” said Malsky.
Lucerne County expects the building to start at some point in 2026.