UDC discusses local bridges

Hour-long closures at Roebling; replacement of Ten Mile River bridge

By SANDY LONG

UPPER DELAWARE RIVER REGION — Motorists intent on crossing the Roebling Bridge at Minisink Ford, NY and Lackawaxen, PA, may face delays of up to one hour during snow removal events this winter under a new policy being put into place by the National Park Service (NPS).

The announcement was made during the course of the Upper Delaware Council’s (UDC) monthly meeting on December 3 by Sandy Schultz, acting superintendent of the Upper Delaware Scenic and Recreational River (UDSRR).

The NPS is exploring the new practice to improve worker safety during snow removal as park staff clear the deck level sidewalks while a plow truck pushes snow off the bridge. Schultz noted that the first priority is keeping the bridge open for vehicular traffic, followed by clearing parking and pedestrian areas and finishing with clearing bridge deck sidewalks.

“We balance keeping the bridge open for people with protecting the structure from deterioration that might be caused by snow and road salt accumulating on the sidewalks that flank the roadway,” said Schultz.

Members of the UDC expressed concerns at the lengthy delay and advocated for allowing vehicles to cross the bridge at shorter intervals. UDC chairman and Shohola Township representative George Fluhr said that motorists are not likely to tolerate hour-long waits.

“Most people will reroute to the Shohola/Barryville bridge or through Welcome Lake,” Fluhr said. “The thing that really concerns me is that they will travel at a higher rate of speed to get to work or keep appointments. If periodic sweeps were encouraged, that would help to minimize this. Every 10 minutes or so, allow a few cars to pass.”

The UDC had prepared a comment letter on the matter, requesting that closure be avoided during heavy use hours. It was amended to include the statement: “Intermittent openings for passage of vehicles during snow removal from bridge deck sidewalks should be permitted.” The letter was unanimously approved.

Information regarding the policy can be obtained by calling 570/729-8251.

Schultz also announced that while final statistics won’t be available until the end of the year, overall visitation rates of approximately 260,000 visitors to the UDSRR appear to be down by approximately 10 percent as compared to 2008.

UDC executive director Bill Douglass reported on the 5:30 p.m. December 3 meeting where the New York State Department of Transportation (NYSDOT) announced its plans to replace the bridge that crosses Ten Mile River on Route 97 in the Town of Tusten, approximately four miles south of Narrowsburg. The bridge was built in 1932. The new bridge will be approximately eight feet wider to meet current design standards and provide additional shoulder width for pedestrians or cyclists. NYSDOT plans to construct a temporary on-site detour, including a temporary bridge, adjacent to the existing bridge for use during construction.

The estimated construction cost of the project is $2.75 million. Construction is expected to begin in August of 2011. Contact Marc Broder, project manager, at 607/721-8601 or mbroder@dot.state.ny.us for more information.

In other matters, the UDC nominating committee set forth its recommended slate of officers for 2010, which was unanimously approved by the council. Nominees included Harold Roeder, Town of Delaware, NY, for chairman; Dolores Keesler, Damascus Township, PA, for vice chairman; and Jack Niflot, Town of Fremont, NY, for secretary-treasurer. The final vote will be taken at the council’s January 7 meeting at 211 Bridge Street in Narrowsburg, NY, which is open to the public and begins at 7:30 p.m.