MOUNT CARBON - Debris was removed Tuesday from the Schuylkill River under the Mount Carbon Arch Road Bridge.
"The pressure was against the bridge," Ed Sadusky, bridge foreman for the state Department of Transportation Schuylkill Haven maintenance office, said.
The pressure was caused by large tree branches, dirt and even a long piece of wood up against a support pillar of the bridge.
Workers from the office were on scene about 8 a.m., and all debris was removed by 4 p.m.
The work was routine maintenance, Sadusky said.
Ron Young, district press officer for PennDOT District 5, said the concrete arch bridge has an average daily traffic of 3,982 vehicles.
It is 164 feet long, 39 feet wide and was constructed in 1925. There is no weight limit for the bridge.
He did not know the last time debris was cleared from the area near the bridge.
PennDOT employees were in the river attaching a chain and metal hook to the logs to remove them. One worker used a chain saw to cut a large log from a tree.
Jason Mika was operating a Gradall, with a chain attached to move the debris on the side of the bridge going into Mount Carbon.
Another worker held a sign to direct traffic.
Sadusky said clearing the debris will help the flow of the water.
Mount Carbon Mayor Jeffrey J. Dunkel said PennDOT is doing a great job of devoting more attention to the area. Cleaning is beneficial, he said.
"I think it will help a little bit," he said about not having debris backup at the bridge.