An aged bridge across a tributary to Cooks Creek in Springtown, Bucks County, was closed to traffic after it was damaged during flooding from Hurricane Isaias last week. The bridge is on a private road that provides access to Springtown Cemetery, which means the cemetery is now effectively off limits to many residents with loved ones interred there.
UPDATE: Following repairs to the small bridge that was damaged during a flash flood Aug. 4, access to the Springtown Cemetery from Rt. 212 in has been restored.
Although it’s been more than a week since Hurricane Isaias dumped up to eight inches of rain on the area, in some cases significant damage to infrastructure caused by the storm is still coming to light.
Visitors to the Springtown Cemetery in Springtown, Springfield Township, Bucks County, were dismayed this week to discover that the only road leading to it is now closed to traffic; a consequence of damage to a bridge along the road, which is privately owned.
Chapel Street–a small lane which intersects with Main Street (Rt. 212) near Springtown Volunteer Fire Company–has had orange cones placed across it to block access to traffic.
In an email to a resident, Springfield Township Manager Jason Wager said the Springtown Cemetery Association informed him that the bridge sustained “major damage” due to flooding that occurred during the storm on a tributary of Cooks Creek.
“(They) are working on it currently to get the access road reopened,” Wager said, referring to the association. “As this is a private access road and bridge, we don’t (have) control of the repair.”
He said the township wasn’t given an anticipated reopening date for the access road.
Significant flash flooding from Isaias also occurred in Hellertown borough, Lower Saucon Township and surrounding areas. As of Thursday, a few roads remain closed in the township due to damage from the storm.
The Springtown Cemetery Association does not have a website or contact information that is available publicly.