Local Resident and DCS File Federal Lawsuit to Stop Demolition of Skinners Falls Bridge

Damascus Citizens for Sustainability (DCS) and Milanville, PA resident Cynthia Nash have filed a federal lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania seeking to halt the planned demolition of the historic Skinners Falls-Milanville Bridge.

The lawsuit demands an immediate injunction to stop all activities related to the destruction of the iconic bridge, including planning, right-of-way acquisition, financing, and contracting. The action challenges a federally-funded emergency demolition project that includes the use of explosives and the construction of a temporary causeway in the Delaware River.

The Skinners Falls Bridge spans the Delaware River between Damascus Township, Wayne County, PA, and Skinners Falls in Cochecton, NY. It lies within the federally protected Upper Delaware Scenic and Recreational River, designated under the National Wild and Scenic Rivers Act.

In their complaint, DCS and Nash argue that the decision to demolish the bridge violates several federal environmental and historic preservation laws, including the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA), and Section 4(f) of the Department of Transportation Act. They contend that the bridge could be rehabilitated and preserved, and that the “emergency” demolition designation is being used as a pretext to bypass proper regulatory review.

The suit also cites Article I, Section 27 of the Pennsylvania Constitution, known as the Environmental Rights Amendment, arguing that the defendants have failed to uphold Pennsylvanians’ constitutional right to the preservation of the state’s natural, scenic, historic, and aesthetic values.

DCS is asking the public for support via a GoFundMe campaign to help with legal costs.

In response to the filing, PennDOT said in an email statement, ““The bridge will not be demolished this week as previously planned. The project team is currently working through some legal issues that have arisen in the past few days. Once we receive additional information, we will provide an update.”

Image: Residents protesting the proposed demolition of the Skinners Falls Bridge in April 2024. (Credit: River Reporter)