A bridge that spans railroad tracks in the village of Hometown likely won’t be replaced until 2025.

“PennDOT started the planning for the bridge on Lincoln Drive and the estimated cost is close to $3 million,” according to Shawn Gilbert, chairman of the Rush Township Board of Supervisors.

During a recent board meeting, Gilbert said he’s hopeful that the bridge will be replaced “within a year or two.”

Because of the closure, traffic is being detoured from Lincoln Drive, which links Routes 54 and 309.

According to information from Pennsylvania Department of Transportation spokesman Ronald Young, a new bridge will need to be designed.

“The current estimate is for a construction contract to be placed out for bids in February of 2025 and construction would take approximately one year,” he said, noting that the timeline is an estimate and is subject to change.

The bridge crosses over the Reading Blue Mountain and Northern Railroad. A September inspection of the structure showed significant deterioration at the connection between the main structural steel members.

The bridge was closed at that point.

PennDOT noted that the bridge is a steel girder-floor beam structure that was built in 1924. It is 38 feet long and 25.2 feet wide.

The average daily traffic on the bridge before the closure was 1,384 vehicles.