PennDOT to Hold Public Meeting on Skinners Falls Bridge Mitigation Plan

PennDOT will hold its third Section 106 consulting party meeting for the Skinners Falls Bridge project on Wednesday, June 17, from 5:30 to 7 p.m. at Tusten Town Hall in Narrowsburg, with a virtual option also available.

The meeting will focus on a draft Memorandum of Agreement, or MOA, outlining proposed mitigation measures following the emergency removal of the historic Skinners Falls Bridge.

The bridge, which crossed the Delaware River between Damascus Township in Wayne County, Pennsylvania, and Cochecton Township in Sullivan County, New York, was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1988. It was recognized as a rare example of an intact multiple-span Baltimore truss bridge and was also a contributing element to the Milanville Historic District.

PennDOT says the bridge was removed due to serious structural concerns and in the interest of public safety.

Heather Gerling, a Cultural Resource Professional and Architectural Historian with PennDOT, said the upcoming meeting is meant to review the draft MOA and gather feedback on how the proposed mitigation measures should be carried out.

Some of the mitigation ideas discussed during earlier meetings include historic documentation of the bridge, a possible monument or plaque, a local grant program managed through the Upper Delaware Council, and potential projects involving local artists or pieces of the removed bridge.

Gerling said the process is not focused on whether a new bridge will be built at the site. Instead, this meeting is focused on wrapping up the cultural resource review tied to the emergency removal of the historic bridge.

Members of the public may attend in person at Tusten Town Hall, located at 210 Bridge Street in Narrowsburg, or register to attend virtually through the Zoom link provided in PennDOT’s project notice.

Radio Catskill’s Patricio Robayo spoke with Heather Gerling about the meeting, the proposed mitigation measures, and what comes next for the former Skinners Falls Bridge site.

Register for the virtual meeting in advance using this link: https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/GDj5bJ-lSAisEQmhSFFVPA (Optional Dial in Number +1-646-931-3860. Meeting ID: 830 6165 3552).