A black-and-white placard has been erected at the northern end of the Scott Township Veterans Memorial Bridge in honor of the late Scott Commissioner and Treasurer Donald Diebold.

The sign is a tribute to Mr. Diebold, who worked tirelessly for 11 years to secure the required money, as well as state and railroad approvals, to build a new span to replace the dilapidated Crooked Bridge -- so named because of its 90-degree turn -- that was closed in June 1982 for safety reasons.

Mr. Diebold, 77, died in December after a short illness.

The township could not afford to fix the old structure, but after money became available through a bridge bill, Mr. Diebold sought endorsements from the Public Utility Commission and the state Transportation Department.

Mr. Diebold was elated when the new $2.3 million replacement bridge was opened in mid-October 1993.

"There were times I thought it would never get done," he said at the time. "There were so many monkey wrenches."

At a ceremony last Thursday attended by about 70 township officials, state representatives, friends and neighbors, Mr. Diebold's widow, Eileen, unveiled the commemorative sign on the Old St. Luke's side of the bridge.

It reads, "In memory of his service and dedication to Scott Township, Donald A. Diebold, 1971-2008."

Mr. Diebold served more than three decades as a public official, first as a commissioner and later as treasurer.

He also served as chairman of the Scott Democratic Party, as well as president of the South Hills Area Councils of Governments. He worked for the county treasurer's and elections departments and was a veteran of the Korean War.

Upon his retirement last fall, he said he was most proud of his efforts to get a new bridge connecting the Old Bower Hill Road/Greentree Road and Scrubgrass Road/Main Street sections of the township.

Though he understood that the span was important to keep the township connected, he may not have anticipated its role in serving as an important transportation link for development.

The bridge provides access to the 256-unit Providence Point retirement community off Kane Boulevard, the South Hills Jewish Community Center and the John J. Kane Regional Center.

First Published: September 3, 2009, 1:30 p.m.