Planned bridge work causes concern

By Anya Tikka
MILFORD — Planned bridge repairs raised concerns for Pike County Commissioners' Chair Matt Osterberg.
The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) has scheduled repairs to the bridge on Route 209 leading to Milford center and points west, as well as to the Mott Street Bridge in Milford. The bridge repairs are expected start in 2020, with planning meetings on the way. Recently, Osterberg already attended one informational meeting, and he’s not happy about the plans in the works.
“A discussion is going on between town and PennDOT engineers to get the work done," on the Mott Street Bridge, he said. "In 2020, PennDOT is going to be refurbishing the bridge on Route 209, and at that time it means closure of the bridge. There’s a discussion of how it affects people, about the Mott Street Bridge, and how are people going to get in and out of this town.”
As of now, Mott Street Bridge is planned to be for pedestrians only. Osterberg is concerned over the cost and the bypasses that have to be built once construction on the 209 bridge starts. The 209 bridge cannot take one-lane construction.
“As we stated many times before, the county has $461,000 toward this project, from a grant we received two and a half years ago," he said. "This is the amount available to make this bridge available for pedestrians. There are many more bridges in this county that are much more significant to the movement of people in and out of the county, getting to their homes. This is a walking bridge. This project is now somewhere in the region of $1.2 million for a 100-year-old bridge. When they work on it and find more problems, who’s paying for that?”
Osterberg suggested a solution that permanently refurbishes the Mott Street Bridge for vehicular traffic one-way. It also serves as the solution to the needed bypass when the 209 bridge work starts, a better option to spending another $1.5 million on the temporary work to be torn down for another bypass bridge.
“The solution to this is the Mott Street Bridge," Osterberg said. "I’ve talked to engineers. Money for the bridge and the temporary 209 bridge is $1.2 (million) and $1.5 (million), equaling 2.7 million. Put it into Mott Street Bridge, and you’ll be able to drive a truck across it. I’m recommending we do that. It’s practical."
PennDOT estimates the 209 bridge work will take six months, a length Osterberg didn’t think was going to hold. The bridge is old, he said, and something else might be found during the construction. In fact, it could take years, to the detriment of Milford and other communities that the main route leading to town serves.
He said PennDOT's proposal is to "build a 200-foot bridge across the Sawkill River, through (National Park Service) property, where there’s an old mill and a lot of artifacts," he said. "What a waste of money. We’re going to put 1.2 million to Mott St. Bridge, and probably 1.5 million on a temporary 200 foot bridge that’s going to be torn down, so we’re spending $3 million on a job. We wonder why Harrisburg is in the condition it’s in.”
He asked: “What will happen to businesses over here with six months of no one coming in from Jersey side? This area relies heavily on tourism.”
Osterberg talked at length about the importance of having the road flow smoothly. He thinks the route proposed by PennDOT is not going to be approved by the National Park Service. He questioned the wisdom of spending more money on the Mott Street Bridge, which has already seen extensive and costly repairs.
Osterberg suggested a one-way in, one-way out plan that cuts in toward the Metz ice plant from Route 209 before the bridge if coming from New Jersey direction, and eventually comes up in front of Belle Reve, and the way out through Mott Street Bridge coming out.
PennDOT’s plans have a bypass from 209, coming from New Jersey, before the bridge.
Osterberg believs it's a kind of game between PennDOT and the park service, with harmful consequences to businesses in Milford.
The Mott Street Bridge had traffic until 1980s, Osterberg noted.
“We’re still negotiating," he said. "If this doesn’t get built, this town will be shut down for six months. PennDOT knew of this and why did they not let us know before we started with the Mott Street Bridge? Shame on them.”
PennDOT Public Relations Officer James May said in a phone call: “We have these meetings so far to get input. We did put forward a few options, and we’re working with the NPS. It’s a process. We’ll look at Mr. Osterberg’s proposal as well.”