North Main Street Sidewalk Project Moving Forward In Yardley

YARDLEY BOROUGH - The second phase of the North Main Street sidewalk project is moving forward.

The borough’s engineer reported on Tuesday night that bids for the project are scheduled to be opened on June 14 with a recommendation expected at its next council meeting.

The second phase will extend the existing sidewalk northward from the Brock Creek Bridge to the easement for the Mary Yardley Footbridge Bridge.

If all goes as planned, the project is scheduled for completion sometime this fall, according to borough engineer Pat Foley.

Foley also reported that the borough is awaiting approval from the state Department of Environmental Protection for the Mary Yardley Footbridge replacement project.

“We will be looking for permission to advertise for bids at the next meeting. We would like to get the bridge ordered in advance of receiving all the permits,” Foley told the council.

Foley said he’s looking at going out for bid in mid-to-late July on the project.

The original metal body footbridge was built more than a century ago and named for Mary Yardley, the adjacent property owner who granted a public easement from North Main Street to access the bridge.

The footbridge and bridge path were used to connect Main Street and the Rivermawr neighborhood, providing access to a trolley line that once operated on North Main Street.

Back in those days, Rivermawr was a summer retreat for people looking to escape the urban environment of the early 1900s. At that time, automobiles were a luxury, so many residents relied on the trolley and the railroad as their primary means of transportation.

After more than 70 years of use, the metal footbridge was replaced in the 1980s by a wooden span, which has deteriorated and now needs to be replaced.

The current 40-year-old footbridge is primarily used for recreational purposes, providing access to the canal towpath for cycling, walking, running, fishing, and dog walking.

As the northernmost bridge in the Borough, it connects residents to the town’s restaurants, shopping, and Yardley events, such as Harvest Day, Canal-O-Ween, Music on Main, and Christmas and Memorial Day parades.

The footbridge also is an important alternative means of emergency access in the event of flooding in the river neighborhoods.

During the back-to-back floods in 2004, 2005, and 2006, residents and first responders used the bridge frequently as access and escape route to the flooded areas.

In other business, the council voted unanimously to advertise for the position of a full-time police officer.

The new hire would replace officer Joseph Harris who resigned last month and bring the force up to a full complement of five full-time and nine part-time officers.

Council also unanimously approved an outdoor dining request from Pretty Bird Cafe/Deep Roots at 7 South Main Street.

The coffee room and vegan restaurant had asked for permission from the council to relocate six chairs from the inside of the establishment to its outside porch when the weather allows.

Also at the meeting council interviewed seven candidates for the position of the borough tax collector. The council is expected to make an appointment at its next meeting.

Just two months into the job, newly-elected tax collector Melissa Wayne resigned from the post to enroll in nursing school full time. Former tax collector Cheryl Lowe-Cier has been filling in temporarily until the position is filled.

In other action, the council approved a request by St. Andrew’s Church to hold a public safety walk in response to recent mass shootings in Buffalo, N.Y., and at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas.

About 40 people will walk down the sidewalk from the church on West Afton Avenue to the Main Street and Afton Avenue intersection. The walk will take place on Saturday, June 12 from 10 to 11 a.m.