Posts Tagged ‘Columbia PA’

Deco bridge restoration to restore original look

April 15, 2009

The Veterans Memorial Bridge linking Columbia with Wrightsville, Pennsylvania, may soon be getting a facelift. The Lancaster Intelligencer Journal reports that on April 30, 3 pm, at the Columbia Borough building, the nonprofit Lancaster-York Heritage Region will unveil plans for the renovation of the bridge and ask for public input.

pa_columbiabridge

Plans call for a three-phase project. In the first phase, workers would replace the “cobra” streetlights put in during the 1970s with reproductions of the original art deco lights used when the bridge first opened to traffic in September 1930….

The second phase would concentrate on the “travel plazas” at either end of the bridge, including upgrades such as new landscaping and pedestrian improvements such as traffic islands or “roundabouts” like those found in Gettysburg and Abbotstown.

The project’s final phase would involve “under-lighting” the bridge’s reinforced concrete arches. “This last phase would be aimed at travelers going across the nearby Route 30 bridge,” Pinkerton said.

I am also quoted in the article, in varying degrees of accuracy.

Another Lincoln Highway diner in PA reopens

May 22, 2008

Lancaster Online reported last week on the reopening of a popular Lincoln Highway eatery. The Prospect Diner is along the Lincoln Highway (Columbia Ave/Rt 462) between Mountville and Columbia in the east-central part of the state. It had previously been known as Benji’s, the 3-D, and Keri’s, its name as it sat closed for the past year. New owners Michael and April Conroy have completely renovated the kitchen and and revivied seating area with lots of red vinyl along the counter, stools, and booths. The 1955 Kullman-brand diner, with a classic overhanging “outer space style” eave, features homestyle food for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Open 5 a.m. to 8 p.m. Mon–Sat; 6 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sun.

Here it is on my trip last week – CLICK for a larger view.