The demolition of the Bishop Road Bridge in Upper Allen Township is set to take place as early as spring 2026, according to Kirk Stoner, Cumberland County Planner. The decision follows the township board of supervisors’ failure to secure the necessary votes to take ownership of the bridge from Cumberland and York counties. As a result, preparations for the removal of the 126-year-old structure will resume under Cumberland County’s leadership.
In early June, discussions among the township supervisors resulted in a deadlock regarding the ownership of the bridge. The board was unable to reach a majority decision, and as Stoner noted, “A motion did not pass to accept ownership of the bridge.” This lack of consensus means that Cumberland County will continue its plans for demolition, which were initially paused in 2023 when Upper Allen expressed interest in potentially acquiring the bridge.
Bishop Road Bridge, located over the Yellow Breeches Creek, was closed in July 2021 due to structural deficiencies associated with its age. Stoner indicated that the next steps involve completing the permitting process with the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection before any demolition can occur. Coordination between the offices of Upper Allen and Monaghan Township, which lies on the York County side of the creek, will be essential for subsequent developments.
The future of the infrastructure surrounding the bridge presents options for the townships, including the possibility of creating a turn-around or cul-de-sac to adjust for the loss of access between the municipalities. Stoner emphasized, “It will be up to the townships to determine what they want,” noting that discussions with Upper Allen Township will be crucial because they own the road.
Cumberland County has invested time and resources into securing the necessary permits for the demolition, which was initially slated for 2024. A request from Upper Allen in May 2023 to pause the project led to a temporary halt, allowing the township to evaluate the possibility of transferring ownership to preserve the bridge as a pedestrian structure. Stoner mentioned, “We paused things starting in April 2024. We gave them until the end of the year.”
During this period, the township’s board was split, with a 2-2 deadlock on the ownership issue, exacerbated by the resignation of supervisor Virginia Anderson. Following additional discussions and an extension granted by Cumberland County and York County, the board remained unable to achieve a majority, leading to the decision to move forward with demolition plans.
Support for preserving the bridge was voiced by supervisors Eric Fairchild and Phil Walsh, who highlighted its historic value. They proposed aligning rehabilitation efforts with the township’s 175th anniversary celebrations. Conversely, supervisors Ken Martin and Richard Castranio, along with newly appointed supervisor Jim Cochran, opposed the idea due to concerns over restoration costs and other competing township priorities.
Stoner added, “That bridge had a lower-than-average daily traffic count. We looked at it and asked, ‘Is this an investment that really has countywide impact?’ We said no.” This assessment prompted both the county and township to conclude that the bridge no longer serves a significant functional purpose.
As the county prepares to resume the demolition process, Stoner anticipates that cost estimates may increase due to inflation and other factors. He noted, “I can’t look back and say it [the delay] cost us x amount of dollars. We believe the pause was being a good partner. It was worth it to see if a partner wanted to consider ownership.”
In the meantime, the Sheepford Road Bridge in Lower Allen Township has been added to the Cumberland County Register of Historic Places, highlighting ongoing efforts to preserve the region’s historical infrastructure.
Residents and stakeholders are encouraged to stay informed on developments related to local governance and infrastructure projects through updates from local authorities.