It appears there is finally a plan to fix the Oakland Avenue Viaduct.

Since November 2001 when construction halted on the viaduct, which spans U.S. Route 62, also known as Connelly Boulevard in Sharon, contractors' engineers have been trying to figure out exactly what went wrong with the bridge and how to fix it, Mark Miller, Mercer County bridge engineer, told Sharon council Thursday.

"There's been a lot of misconception about the bridge and a lot of rumors floating around out there," Miller said.

He said the pedestals that hold the bridge supports are not level with one another, and that has caused a misalignment of the steel beams.

McDonough, Bolyard & Peck, of Fairfax, Va., the contractors' engineers, have decided that the best way to fix the bridge is to construct plates on the pedestals to bring them all in alignment, Miller said. He said that will cause everything to fall into place.

The official plan hasn't been submitted yet, Miller said. He said he expects to have the plan by the end of next week, and the county and PennDOT will have to approve the plan.

If the plan is acceptable, work should resume on the viaduct at the end of March and be complete sometime in June, Miller said.

"It's just unimaginable this has gone on like this," Councilman Lou Rotunno said.

Councilman George Gulla said he has safety concerns, especially with the number of kids that walk across the unfinished bridge.

"Sooner or later we're gonna lose one (a kid)," Gulla said. "Heaven forbid it's because we've been dragging our feet."

Miller said the contractor has been notified of the safety problems but hasn't put up any fencing or other safety precautions.

Gulla said city officials should have been included in discussions about the viaduct since it affects Sharon residents.

Miller added that the bridge is not rusting away like many people seem to think. He said the type of steel used is meant to rust, and everything will be painted to match.