Emsworth officials were informed Wednesday that the Herron Avenue Bridge has deteriorated to the point that it must be closed immediately.

The bridge crosses Lowries Run from Western Avenue to what is primarily a commercial/industrial area that includes Schaffner Manufacturing, and carries heavy truck traffic.

A recent inspection by engineers for the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) revealed that support beams had rusted through, according to Emsworth Council member Paul Getz.

The bridge, built in 1932, was slated for reconstruction in 2012, with funding already in place. PennDOT hopes to expedite those plans and get a new bridge built in 2011, Getz said.

The plans approved for the replacement project included the design and placement of a temporary bridge. The design has been completed, Getz said, and expediting this portion of the reconstruction project even more should allow the borough to place a temporary bridge within two to three months. The time is necessary to advertise specifications and obtain bids, Getz said.

The temporary bridge will be placed across from the borough’s public works building on Western Avenue and cross Lowries Run to Herron Avenue.

In the meantime, the borough will post an unofficial detour for traffic that will take vehicles down Western/Atlantic avenues and along the railroad tracks to the rear of the commercial area. Another route that comes from Cliff Avenue down into the area cannot be used as a detour because it involves the use of a road that is privately owned, and is too steep for large trucks, Getz said.