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‘Make It Right’: Unemployment compensation amnesty program announced

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Farmers Market returns to Public Square Thursday

<p>EXETER TWP. &#8212; The Coxton bridge is coming down courtesy of funds from the state Department of Community and Economic Development, officials announced Wednesday.</p><p>State Sen. John Yudichak, D-Plymouth Township, announced the DCED has awarded $1 million to the Luzerne County Redevelopment Authority to finance demolition of the dilapidated span.</p><p>The state agency decided earlier this month there were no alternatives other than <a href="https://www.timesleader.com/news/663205/state-agency-recommends-demolition-of-coxton-bridge" target="_blank">demolishing the former railroad bridge. </a></p><p>Yudichak said the funding &#8220;eliminates a clear and present danger to the community.&#8221;</p><p>&#8220;We cannot risk the collapse of the bridge that could dam the Susquehanna River, which would threaten surrounding properties in Exeter and Duryea,&#8221; said the lawmaker.</p><p>The bridge, which connects the Coxton Rail Yards in Duryea to the Harding section of Exeter Township, has been a concern for other state agencies since 2014.</p><p>The Department of Environmental Protection ordered former owner LAG Wrecking to either rebuild or stabilize the bridge.</p><p>LAG Wrecking was owned by towing contractor Leo A. Glodzik III.</p><p>Glodzik is serving a 30-month federal prison term for a guilty plea on charges of mail fraud and filing a false tax return. Glodzik&#8217;s sister, Pilar, president of LAG Wrecking, agreed to sign over the bridge&#8217;s ownership to any government entity willing to complete demolition.</p><p>In February, the Luzerne County Redevelopment Authority reacquired the span. LAG Wrecking purchased <a href="https://www.timesleader.com/news/636815/plans-to-tear-down-deteriorating-coxton-railroad-bridge-over-susquehanna-approved" target="_blank">the bridge from the Luzerne County Redevelopment Authority in 2007 for $500</a>, but never carried out its plans to demolish it and sell the steel for scrap.</p><p>Andy Reilly, executive director of the authority, said his agency would &#8220;act swiftly to remove&#8221; the span.</p><style>
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<div class="neCaption">The Luzerne County Redevelopment Authority owns the abandoned Coxton railroad bridge in Exeter Township. The state has awarded the authority $1 million in funding to demolish the span. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo0>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/web1_TTL082615bridge.jom_-4.jpg</photo0><caption0>The Luzerne County Redevelopment Authority owns the abandoned Coxton railroad bridge in Exeter Township. The state has awarded the authority $1 million in funding to demolish the span. </caption0><photoCredit0>Times Leader file photo </photoCredit0></div></div>
<div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta><p>By Melanie Mizenko</p><p>mmizenko@www.timesleader.com</p></bylineMeta></div>

County Redevelopment Authority gets $1M to demolish Coxton bridge