SKINNERS FALLS, NY and MILANVILLE, PA — The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) announced on Monday, February 24 that work on the project to remove the Skinners Falls Bridge will begin on February 26, 2025. Work will begin with site preparation and causeway construction.

The week of February 24, the contractor will begin to move equipment and materials to the Skinners Falls New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC) parking lot (Skinners Falls Parking Lot, Co Rd 44, Narrowsburg, NY 12764).

On Wednesday, February 26, work will begin on Skinners Falls W Road near the railroad crossing.  Minor improvements to the roadway grade are necessary to accommodate construction equipment.  The road will be useable and remain open during construction.

 The fishing access area and parking lot will not be accessible for public use during construction.  Construction is anticipated to last until May 2025.

Recreation users are directed to exit the river upstream at Damascus and re-enter the river downstream at Narrowsburg.   River use will be restricted while construction activities are occurring.  River users are strongly encouraged to avoid travelling and recreating under and around the Skinners Falls-Milanville Bridge.

An Aids to Navigation Plan (ATON) for recreational river users to pass under the bridge is currently in effect, however buoys are not present because of river icing.  Buoys and advisory signage will be installed in the river when the river is free of ice.

A complete river closure in the vicinity of the bridge will be necessary during a portion of construction.  Please check NPS Upper Delaware River website for river alerts.   http://nps.gov/upde/planyourvisit/conditions.htm

The area in and around the Skinners Falls Bridge will be fenced off for public safety.  Public access will not be allowed for the duration of construction.

PennDOT is removing the Skinners Falls Bridge due to its failed condition.  An October 2024 inspection showed that the bridge superstructure is in a critical condition and the substructure has failed. PennDOT analyzed different options and determined demolition was necessary to eliminate the risk to public safety. A January 2025 inspection confirmed the New York abutment and upstream (left) truss bearing areas are actively moving.  It is necessary to remove the bridge as quickly as possible to prevent an uncontrolled collapse.

See the links below for more on the Skinners Falls Bridge

https://riverreporter.com/stories/could-a-transfer-of-ownership-save-the-skinners-falls-bridge,184275

https://riverreporter.com/stories/nps-issues-permit-moving-skinners-falls-bridge-demolition-forward,183983

https://riverreporter.com/stories/no-bridge-between-them-government-community-at-odds-over-skinners-falls-bridge,183570

https://riverreporter.com/stories/we-did-everything-we-could,178191?

https://riverreporter.com/stories/penndot-plans-to-destroy-skinners-falls-bridge-with-explosive-charges,175845?

Editor's note: The originally published version of this press release included incorrect information in the headline. This has been corrected as of Tuesday, February 25 at 11 a.m.