Writer warns against Pond Eddy Bridge construction

Posted 8/21/12

On September 10, The River Reporter published “UDC: Pond Eddy bridge work ‘going to get somebody killed.” This dramatic headline tells of “work” that is unprecedented. This work would …

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Writer warns against Pond Eddy Bridge construction

Posted

On September 10, The River Reporter published “UDC: Pond Eddy bridge work ‘going to get somebody killed.” This dramatic headline tells of “work” that is unprecedented. This work would necessitate closing the river for over two years. This work would require closing a lane of Route 97 for over two years. This work will kill untold numbers of migrating fish species, freshwater eels and other wildlife. This work may even cause the death of an innocent visitor boating on the river, or perhaps someone you know and love. This work is an unprecedented and obvious violation of our beloved river.

After 12 years of absurd “pork barrel” Pond Eddy Bridge replacement talk, it is now long overdue for officials to get real and to get on with refurbishing the existing bridge, which even PennDOT consultants have implied can easily be brought back to its original 18-ton rating and can surely continue to serve the 30 to 50 cars per day that use it. Please consider the Narrowsburg Bridge/PennDOT farce, and now PennDOT wants to obstruct the scenic byway and stop the very flow of the river itself. So you must act.

The alarming aspect of this projected “replacement-bridge” construction is an engineering requirement to build a full causeway spanning the entire river from bank to bank. Such a causeway will be the first ever full obstruction of the “longest free-flowing river east of the Mississippi.” I urge citizens of our river community, local businesses and regional groups to please take some form of action to protect our beautiful river. Lives will be saved; river tourism will be saved; river ecology will be saved; public money will be saved; and a unique National Historic Landmark will remain in our park’s “gateway” for all to enjoy for many years to come.

Pat Carullo

Laxawaxen, PA

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