YOU Can Be a Consulting Party for the Skinners Falls Bridge Project
April 14, 2021
Skinners Falls Bridge Comments Coming In – Have YOU Made Yours?
April 26, 2021
Ed Wesely lived in Damascus, PA for 30 years and has a deep reverence for the history and beauty of the Upper Delaware River Valley. You can feel his passion for preserving the Skinners Falls Bridge in the following comment he made to PennDOT on the Skinners Falls Bridge project:
I’ve only answered a couple of questions in the PennDOT survey and plan to enclose a letter explaining why. At the bottom of page #1 I wrote the following:
I have no idea what you mean by an ‘Environmental Linkages Study’ to identify ‘a path forward’ for the
Skinners Falls Bridge (ie, ‘Milanville Bridge,’ which is the correct historical name: it was built by the Milanville Bridge Company, formed by Milton Skinner, great grandson of Daniel Skinner, for whom Skinners Falls is named).
What you’ve asked us to fill-out is a traffic survey. Imagine using such a survey to ‘identify a path forward’ for San Francisco’s Golden Gate Bridge – while ignoring its structural beauty, and its magnificent setting in the Bay. You and PennDOT would be run out of town.
To use a traffic study to justify decisions about the Milanville Bridge similarly ignores its “Oustandingly Remarkable” qualities identified in a recent National Park Service review – qualities that contribute to the Upper Delaware River’s designation as a NATIONAL SCENIC RIVER – and which encompass extraordinary scenic, cultural and engineering values attributed to the bridge and its setting in the beautiful – and historic – Milanville Eddy. And its relation to the Milanville Historic District, which enjoys listing on the National Register of Historic Places.
Inveigh as they will against the historic bridge, the Wayne County Commissioners and Damascus Supervisors ignore a major NATIONAL INTEREST that led Congress to designate this reach of the Upper Delaware as a component of its National Scenic River legislation for the Upper Delaware in the 1970’s.
Already I fear that PennDOT is loading the dice against our present Milanville Bridge as they did at Pond Eddy many years ago.
Download Ed’s brochure on the historic Skinners Falls Bridge
Download Ed’s brochure on the Milanville Historic District
Read more about the Skinners Falls Bridge on HistoricBridges.org
6 Comments
I too am for total restoration of the Skinners Fall Bridge. We need to preserve our history of this area. There are two (Damascus and Narrowsburg) double lane bridges for trucks and all other traffic within just a few miles up river and down river from Skinners Fall Bridge. We do not need another.
I feel we need to protect the beauty, safety and history of River Road and Milanville Road. They are not meant for heavy traffic and are nestled in an historic land mark village. Preservation of natural habitat and of our own.
Something is wrong here. Why would PennDOT even consider a bridge to accommodate more traffic in this tranquil historic town when there is so much more urgent need for road repairs all over the county? Yes, Milanville needs the bridge, yes residents and visitors need access. But the reason people use the bridge is mainly local convenience. There is no major influx nor is there a major employer. The main reason visitors come is for the historic and pastoral surroundings. What is the true purpose of increasing the capacity when there is no obvious proof of need?
In response to your question, consider the following:
1. “Republican lawmakers from Pennsylvania have filed a suit against the Delaware River Basin Commission (DRBC), challenging its authority to prohibit fracking.” (The River Reporter, January 20, 2021). Damascus Township joined this lawsuit as a plaintiff. Joseph Canfield and Steve Adams are on the Damascus Township Board of Supervisors and are also members of the Skinners Falls Bridge Project Advisory Committee (PAC).
2. “Wayne County Commissioners approved a motion at their January 28 meeting to join state Republicans in challenging the Delaware River Basin Commission’s (DRBC) moratorium on fracking.” (The River Reporter, January 28, 2021). Brian Smith is one the the County commissioners who voted in favor of joining this pro-fracking lawsuit. Mr. Smith is also a member of the Skinners Falls Bridge PAC.
Fracking requires thousands of trips by heavy trucks to deliver building materials for well construction, and to haul water, fracking fluids and fracking wastes. This traffic results in road damage and increased traffic accidents.
“Pennsylvania Department of Transportation officials reported that in 2010 more than $265 million was needed to repair roads damaged due to Marcellus Shale drilling (Christie, 2010; Dutzik et al., 2012). Additionally, state officials reported that as their rural roads were not designed to withstand the volume or weight of the level of truck traffic, they have sometimes been degraded into impassability (Randall, 2010). By 2013, the state estimated that it would cost $3.5 billion just to maintain the states existing roadway assets, and an additional $8.7 billion for necessary bridge repairs (Rogers, 2013), with fewer than 7,000 existing wells.” (Roadway Degradation Costs Due to Mass Fracking Industrialization By Brent Ritzel).
The presence of multiple pro-fracking members on the Skinners Falls Bridge PAC may help explain the committee’s preference for a new 2 lane, 40 ton bridge.
I am in favor of restoring the architectural beauty of the Skinner’s Falls bridge. It was used for so many years and at this point with Delaware River region being protected from fracking it seems reasonable to keep the structure of an old bridge to highlight the beauty of the river.
I am for restoration of the Skinners Fall Bridge not for creating a huge metal eyesore that is inappropriate for the historic area it is in. I agree it does not have to be used for trucks and heavy machinery. The whole community has suffered by not having the bridge accessible for the past few years. It has been a disservice to the community.
I am for restoration that makes sense. Not for the typical overkill that is constantly pushed. This bridge has to be made just for local car traffic, not for trucks or heavy machinery.