Wilkes-Barre Clears Hurdle in Washington Street Bridge Project

Restoration of a key traffic artery moves closer to completion after right-of-way plans finalized.

Published on Feb. 12, 2026

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Officials working on the North Washington Street Bridge replacement project in Wilkes-Barre have cleared another hurdle, bringing restoration of a significant traffic artery closer to completion. A consultant working for the state Department of Transportation has finalized right-of-way plans for the project, identifying privately owned properties that must be acquired to accommodate construction of a slightly larger bridge.

Why it matters

The deteriorating Washington Street Bridge has been closed to pedestrians for 18 years and to all traffic since 2012, adding several minutes to emergency response times in the area. Restoring this key traffic artery is crucial for the city's infrastructure and public safety.

The details

The city must secure rights to two entire properties and parts of three others for the project, as the new bridge must be built somewhat larger to comply with current regulations. The property acquisition process is now underway, and the final design plans for the bridge will be completed simultaneously. The $2.5 million project is mostly funded by state and federal governments.

  • The bridge was closed to pedestrians about 18 years ago.
  • The bridge was closed to all traffic in 2012.
  • City council approved moving forward with the project in spring 2018.
  • Preliminary project plans were released at public meetings in May 2019.
  • The Federal Highway Administration issued a 'Finding of No Significant Impact' for the project this past May.

The players

George C. Brown

The mayor of Wilkes-Barre.

Mark Barry

The city grant coordinator.

Dominic Yannuzzi

A project manager with the Alfred Benesch engineering company.

Luzerne County Rail Corporation

The owner of the railroad tracks under the bridge, which are used for freight traffic.

Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission

The agency that deemed the bridge a historic element of the Lehigh Valley Railroad.

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What they’re saying

“Now, we're able to start the process of … consulting with the people who own the properties there and look at getting an agreement with the property owners, and then we can start doing the right-of-way clearance process, which should take no more than 18 months.”

— George C. Brown, Mayor (citizensvoice.com)

“The property acquisition is necessary because the new bridge must be built somewhat larger than the previous bridge in order for it to comply with current federal and state regulations.”

— Mark Barry, City Grant Coordinator (citizensvoice.com)

What’s next

The city must complete the property acquisition process within the next 18 months before the project can be put out to bid.

The takeaway

This project highlights the complex regulatory and historical preservation requirements that can delay critical infrastructure improvements, even for a relatively straightforward bridge replacement. However, the city's persistence and the availability of state and federal funding are helping to move this project forward, restoring a vital transportation link for Wilkes-Barre.