Today, Erie Mayor Joe Schember, along with the City’s Department of Public Works, elected officials, and local dignitaries gathered to dedicate the new Kahkwa Bridge in northwest Erie. The bridge is now open to traffic. This bridge replaces the former crumbling Kahkwa Bridge, which was built in 1920 and served pedestrian, bicycle, and vehicular traffic on Kahkwa Boulevard over Ravine Drive in the City of Erie for 101 years.
The project cost was $2.6 million, which was primarily funded through Pennsylvania Act 89 of 2013, which enabled Erie – and all other counties – to levy a $5 Local Use Fee on vehicle registrations. These funds are used exclusively for the repair or replacement of structurally unsound local bridges.
In 2021, after the bridge was determined to be structurally unsound, the City began seeking feedback from residents regarding bridge replacement options.
The bridge was demolished in October 2021 due to its advanced deteriorating condition and safety concerns. The City continued to receive feedback from residents in 2022.
Based on a neighborhood survey performed by the City, 55% of residents requested a vehicular bridge with enhanced sidewalks for Pedestrian access, 38% requested a pedestrian-only bridge and 7% requested no bridge. In 2022, TranSystems set to work on designing replacement options. Public meetings were held in February and November of 2023 at which the City and TranSystems solicited public feedback on project alternatives and on the final design of the bridge and construction.
During the dedication, Mayor Joe Schember took a moment to recognize the City employees who were instrumental in seeing the project to fruition, saying: “Projects like this take a long time, and we are so happy that this day has finally arrived! I want to especially thank three former city employees who were with us from the beginning of this project and got the ball rolling: Former Director of Public Works Chuck Zysk, Assistant Director A.J. Antolik, and City Engineer Jon Tushak. They were with me from the very beginning, listening to residents concerns and working with PennDOT, the Erie MPO, and TranSystems to design a bridge replacement. I also want to thank four current City employees for their work on this project: Director of Public Works Jason Sayers, Assistant Director Jeff Gibbens, City Engineer and Assistant Director LeAnn Parmenter, and Project Engineer Brian McNamara. Without the involvement of all seven of these dedicated public servants, we would not be here today. Thank you all very much.”
Director of Public Works Jason Sayers explained that: “The former Kahkwa Bridge was a single span, reinforced concrete, closed spandrel arch with an approx 26 foot span length and 57 foot arch barrel length. The new Kahkwa Bridge is a 2-lane, dual[1]sidewalk, pedestrian and cyclist-friendly bridge. The bridge is of concrete bulb-tee beam construction, is 40 feet wide, and 119 feet long.”
In September, the City of Erie in partnership with the Erie Western PA Port Authority, will be paving Ravine Drive on either side of the new bridge.
For all of their work and support, the City of Erie thanks PennDOT, the Erie Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO), Erie City, County, and State elected officials, the Erie Western PA Port Authority, the Erie Yacht Club, the Erie Water Works, Chivers Construction, Gannett Fleming TranSystems, Urban Engineers, the City of Erie’s Bureau of Engineering, and all the neighborhood residents, who completed surveys, attended one or both public meetings, and offered their suggestions during project development.
Finally, the City is grateful to Erie residents Roger Richards and Des McDonald, who helped to get this project over the finish line. The City appreciates their commitment and involvement and the generous $300,000 donation of Des McDonald towards the project. In recognition, four memorial plaques have been dedicated at the bridge in honor of his son’s memory.
