Garbage Truck, Crane Trapped In Etna Neighborhood

ETNA (KDKA) -- No one would want a huge garbage truck parked in front of their home for months.

But some people on Dewey Street in Etna fear that a garbage truck and a tree-trimming crane could be trapped in their neighborhood for a while.

Both vehicles came over a bridge to get into that section of Etna, but since that bridge has a weight limit, they're not being allowed to leave.

If they wait until December, they'll be able to leave over a bridge that's currently under construction. But there's no other way out.

Mayor Tom Rengers says PennDOT advised the borough that neither vehicle should be allowed to cross over the bridge they drove in on.

KDKA's David Highfield: "The fear is that bridge just couldn't handle the weight?"

Mayor Rengers: "Well, it's more than double the posted weight limit."

But Waste Management spokesperson Erika Deyarmin says, "Through an agreement with the Borough of Etna, all emergency vehicles, garbage trucks and school buses have permission to use the Greeley Avenue Bridge while the Dewey Street Bridge is under construction. We hope to have this issue resolved on Monday."

The mayor, however, says they can't take the risk.

"If it would be damaged beyond repair, and no one would be able to use that, then we wouldn't be able to access that side," said Mayor Rengers.

Which he says could be very serious in the event of an emergency.

The mayor says people should also know that the truck has recyclables, not garbage inside.

He says possible solutions may include putting a temporary steel bridge over top of the bridge with the weight restriction or having the truck owners post money before crossing the bridge in case it's damaged and needs to be repaired.

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