Skinners Falls Surprise: PennDOT Announces Demolition of Historic Bridge

The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation now plans to permanently destroy the standing Skinners Falls Bridge, reversing its prior stated intention of dismantling the bridge and storing its pieces for later use, according to The River Reporter.

This decision comes after an October inspection report which recommended repairs to the bridge and did not mention demolition as a possibility. The project team announced the reversal and new option for the first time at a virtual public meeting on December 17.

The Skinners Falls Bridge crosses the Delaware River, connecting the communities of Milanville, PA, and Skinners Falls, NY, and has been closed to vehicular traffic since 2019.

We spoke to Liam Mayo from The River Reporter who attended the meeting.

Image: The Skinners Falls Bridge opened in 1902 and was closed in 2019 after failing safety inspections. (Credit: Tom Rue/The River Reporter)