Skinners Falls Bridge update

tomrue 18 April 2024
Skinners Falls/Milanville Bridge

This vital interstate bridge, linking New York and Pennsylvania since 1902 is historic in part due to its association with that important spot on the river and the early rafting industry that shaped the region's economy. Unfortunately, this bridge has been closed to all users, including bicycles and pedestrians, since 2019 while PennDOT slow-boats this significant structure's restoration.

PennDOT will deliver a  public display meeting to the community served, featuring AECOM and PennDot (the two entities that will decide the fate of the bridge) on Thursday, April 25, 2024, 5 to 7 pm, at the Narrowsburg Union, 7 Erie Avenue, Narrowsburg, New York 12764.

See the Skinners Falls Bridge project page (PennDOT) for relevant documents on the bridge.

PennDOT is again accepting comments on this project. Comments may be emailed to skinnersfallsbridge@aecom.com by May 26.

 

"Whose bridge? Our bridge!"
PennDOT poster session

Photos from the last time around...
The Milanville Bridge (1902)
major repairs to a landmark truss bridge
connecting New York to Pennsylvania
The River Reporter, 1987-1992

Archive of public comments submitted to PennDOT (comments are AGAIN being accepted)

How WE can help save and rehab the Skinners Falls-Milanville bridge by Barbara Arrindell, The River Reporter, 6/20/2023

The extraordinary Milanville Bridge, by Ed Wesely, The River Reporter, 5/23/2018

Milanville-Skinners Falls Bridge by Wayne County Historical Society

pictures of 1987 Skinners Falls Bridge repairs (photos by Tom Rue)

walking around Skinners Falls, October 20, 2003 (photos by Tom Rue)

Pennsylvania Historic Survey nominating the Skinners Falls Bridge to the National Register of Historic Sites, 3/10/2001

Save the Skinners Falls Bridge Facebook group

Residents get skinny on the Skinners Falls Bridge, Chris Mele, 4/26/2024, Delaware Currents

Protesting residents to PennDOT: “Whose bridge? Our bridge!” WVIA Radio, 4/26/2024

Skinners Falls Bridge

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Upper Delaware River Litter Sweep

tomrue 16 April 2024
MILANVILLE - Walking along the road to Damascus from an agreed upon starting point of the Milanville General Store on a beautiful spring day. Our only mission: Bagging things on the ground that do not belong there. The initial Damascus Township litter sweep kicked off a series of similar Upper Delaware Council events on April 16th held in various locations along the river corridor. Pictured: Volunteer coordinator Evan Padua, who represents Tusten on the UDC; his father Michael Padua of Tyler Hill; UDC member Jeffrey Dexter representing Damascus; retired NPS supervising ranger Don Hamilton; Jill Padua and Tom Rue of Narrowsburg. Contact the UDC for more information at upperdelawarecouncil.org

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Total solar eclipse

tomrue 8 April 2024

“For a few blissful minutes, anyone who happens to be in the path of today’s eclipse will experience an elation more intense than any other celestial experience. Stars will emerge. The universe will be visible. The Earth and all life on it will come into sharper focus. The cosmos will feel complete.” —Robert Reich

Speaking of bridges

tomrue 2 April 2024

Amid the recent reports of the collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge on Route 695 in Baltimore, one email I received from USA Today pointed to the database (see National Bridge Inventory) documenting the condition of bridges throughout the country. Filtering for my own neighborhood, my attention was caught by the description of a small bridge in Narrowsburg around the corner from where I live and work.