High, dry, safe and stranded

Hikers and cyclists unable to cross

between NJ and PA for a year

By TOM KANE

tkane@riverreporter.com

MILFORD, PA - Herb Meyerson says the commission should take another look at its decision to close the Milford-Montague Toll Bridge to pedestrian traffic.

Meyerson lodged his complaint before the meeting of the Pike County Commissioners on March 5.

The commission in question is the Delaware River Joint Toll Bridge Commission, which has closed the pedestrian walk as a safety measure during the rehabilitation of the bridge.

“We held a public hearing on May 18, 2006,” Pete Peterson, a spokesperson for the bridge commission said. “We notified all the area media at that time. We met with municipal officials from Milford Borough, Milford Township, Matamoras Borough and other local officials.”

Located seven miles south of the New Jersey and New York state line, the bridge connects U.S. Route 206 at Montague, NJ to U.S. Routes 6 and 209 at Milford.

Few, including Meyerson, took notice of the hearing and the actual closing took many by surprise.

“This is a tourist area,” Meyerson said. “There is a park on the Jersey side that will now be closed to cyclists and youths on foot, who have been passing on the bridge from Pennsylvania. New Jersey cyclists will not have access to the restaurants and other sites in Milford. When I spoke to the commission, they just said, ‘that’s the way it is.’ I didn’t hear of any public hearings or anything to get the input of the public.”

Meyerson said that he spoke to the Pike County Planning Commission, who will send a letter to the bridge commission.

Peterson pointed to several factors why the walkway had to be closed.

“There will be lead dust and spray painting going on all during renovation,” he said. “We will erect a containment system along the length of the walkway to collect this material. Also, the walkway will serve as a staging area for equipment. For the safety of any cyclist or walkers, the bridge walkway has to be closed.”

Peterson said that there will be a moratorium of construction during the summer season beginning on May 22 and lasting to the end of September. “Traffic will be allowed to flow both ways during the day hours, and not be limited on one-lane as is the case now, but the closure of the walkway will not change.”

There will be no limitation to canoe traffic under the bridge, nor to access to the McDade Trail on the Pennsylvania side that goes under the bridge.

The project includes rehabilitation of the bridge, approach work on both sides of the Delaware River and replacement of the toll plaza. Work includes the replacement of the bridge's precast concrete deck panels, the replacement of deteriorated supporting stringers and the blast cleaning and painting of the entire steel superstructure. The renovation is expected to be completed by May 2009.

Local residents with questions or who would like additional information are encouraged to visit www.drjtbc.org/mm or to call the commission's project hotline at 888/203-7690.