DCS sends Letter of Interest
To Acquire The Nation’s Historic Skinners Falls Bridge:
Objective is to restore, not destroy, the historic bridge.

 
Damascus Citizens for Sustainability (DCS) has sent a Letter of Interest to all entities involved in the proposed “explosive demolition” of the Skinners Falls Milanville Bridge. In PennDOT engineer Susan Hazelton’s response to DCS’ submission of a plan to save the Bridge she wrote, “PennDOT is willing to discuss transfer to any entity willing to take ownership.”

Accordingly, DCS responded, “on behalf of the community we want to move forward with that discussion.”

DCS is awaiting PennDOT’s response.

0n January 29, 2025, DCS provided a set of recommendations from Wrought Iron Bridge Works for non-destructive stabilization and eventual rehabilitation of the historic Skinners Falls Bridge. PennDOT rejected those recommendation.

The Letter of Interest is a proposal that provides a path forward for bridge stabilization, a commitment to full rehabilitation, and related support needs – all of which will save public money in the long run, retain tourism, reduce environmental, archeological, historic impact, ensure that river communities remain connected, and that the valuable historic resource of the Skinners Falls Bridge remains for future generations.

The Letter of Interest, plan and related documents are here:

• Letter of Interest
• Plan to save the Skinners Falls Bridge
• This Press Release

B. Arrindell, DCS’ Director, states: “The proposed destruction of Skinners Fall Bridge must be halted, and bridge rehabilitation finally made a priority. This what the community wants.”

Note that the historic Dingmans Ferry Bridge is a privately owned bridge over the Delaware River