Holes are forming in the sidewalks on the Race Street bridge in Greenville.

"You can look right through and see the water," said Vance Oakes, borough manager.

Heavy steel plates have been placed over two of the holes and a third was filled in, Oakes said.

The borough's engineer, Joe Kurtanich of Kurtanich Engineers & Associates of Hermitage, told council it would cost between $20,000 and $25,000 to fix the sidewalks.

"We're kind of torn" about what to do, Oakes said. The borough has asked for the bridge to be put on the state's schedule for replacement, but it's not there yet.

"The bridge could be replaced in the next 10 years or so," Oakes said. "It is a county-owned bridge, and I'm sure the county will ask the borough to help pay for the sidewalks when it is replaced."

That would put the borough in the position of having to pay for the same work twice, Oakes said.

Council Vice President David Henderson called the bridge "a lawsuit waiting to happen."

Oakes said the sidewalks are built on concrete supports attached to the bridge's main structure. The bridge itself and the concrete supports are still in good shape, he said.

"It's just that the years of road salt and heavy use have led to the deterioration of the sidewalks," he said.

The Race Street bridge crosses the Little Shenango River and leads to the entrance of Riverside Park.

Oakes said the issue of what to do with the sidewalks was referred to council's streets committee, which next meets at 6 p.m. Oct. 30 in the borough building's old council chambers.

"The consensus is that we're going to try to get some money freed up for next year," Oakes said.

You can e-mail Herald Staff Writer Amanda Smith-Teutsch at: ateutsch@sharonherald.com