An Act designating a bridge, identified as Bridge Key 42872, carrying State Route 4013 over Norfolk Southern Railroad and 8th Avenue in the City of Altoona, Blair County, as the Vietnam War Veteran Sgt. Calvin G. Maguire Memorial Bridge.

2025-2026 Regular Session Introduced by Marc Anderson and 12 co-sponsors

The bill designates Bridge Key 42872 in Altoona as the Vietnam War Veteran Sgt. Calvin G. Maguire Memorial Bridge to honor his service without changing bridge operation.

Referred to Transportation

Summary of HB 2627 (Session 2025-2026) – Pennsylvania

Purpose and intent

HB 2627 designates a specific infrastructure asset, Bridge Key 42872, as the Vietnam War Veteran Sgt. Calvin G. Maguire Memorial Bridge. The bill naming recognizes Sgt. Calvin G. Maguire for his military service in the Vietnam War and memorializes him by giving a formal name to the bridge that carries State Route 4013 over Norfolk Southern Railroad and 8th Avenue in the City of Altoona, Blair County.

Key provisions

Designation: The bill assigns the name “Vietnam War Veteran Sgt. Calvin G. Maguire Memorial Bridge” to Bridge Key 42872.

Location and scope: The designation applies to the bridge carrying State Route 4013 over the Norfolk Southern Railroad and 8th Avenue within Altoona, Blair County.

Memorial purpose: The designation serves as a public tribute to Sgt. Calvin G. Maguire, reflecting recognition of his service in the Vietnam War.

Affected entities and beneficiaries

Public thoroughfare: The bridge itself becomes the named memorial, visible on signage and mapped for official records.

Community recognition: Residents of Altoona, Blair County, and visitors would encounter the memorial designation, which honors a Vietnam War veteran.

Government and agencies: Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (or the relevant state and local agencies responsible for signage and naming) would oversee the placement and maintenance of the memorial designation on the bridge, in accordance with existing naming procedures.

Procedural and timeline aspects

Sponsorship: The bill has a broad list of co-sponsors, indicating bipartisan and wide legislative support.

Process: As a typical bridge-naming designation, the bill would pass through the Pennsylvania General Assembly and, upon assent by the Governor, formalize the memorial designation. Administrative steps would include updating official maps, road signage, and transportation records to reflect the new name.

Effective date: The bill would take effect upon final enactment and publication in the appropriate legal and transportation records, with signage changes carried out by applicable transportation authorities.

Practical impact

There is no change to the functional operation of the bridge or traffic patterns; the designation is honorary.

The designation enhances local historical memory and honors military service without altering transportation funding or maintenance responsibilities beyond standard signage updates.

If you’d like, I can add a brief note on the typical process for implementing bridge-name designations in Pennsylvania or tailor this summary for a particular audience (e.g., policymakers, local residents, or veterans groups).