Op-Ed: Scout Rd. Bridge, an Integral Part of our Township

 It has been almost 5 years since the closure of Scout Road.

Like our buildings, the dirt lanes and country roads of this township hold historic value. For over 100 years Scout Road was a thoroughfare for residents and travelers. Local farmers used this road to drive their cattle to Spinnerstown and to transport grain and goods from its mill and ice from the neighboring ice dam.  

The township has worked diligently to maintain the agricultural, rural and historic character of Lower Milford Township and yet here we are asking to keep a rural road open.  

Closing Scout Road puts the safety and welfare of its residents at risk, from the refusal of emergency services to drive the lane to the lack of an alternate route for safe travel.

 Scout Road previously provided the residents with alternate routes in case of weather or traffic issues on Kings Highway, Zionsville Road, Powder Valley road and Palm road. It provided easy access for fire and emergency vehicles and gave the residents the access they needed to move safely through the Township.

Scout Road residents rarely used the route we are forced to use today. 98% of the time the household traffic always used the lower section of Scout Road onto Rock Road because of its ease to travel in all situations.

The route we are forced to use today is a steep hill with an abrupt drop along its edge, making it difficult to traverse in bad weather and impossible to navigate if there are downed trees or vehicles blocking the road. It also creates higher maintenance issues for the township, having to respond to varying conditions more often then before.   

It has created situations where the residents are totally dependent on the township to react before access can be made into or out of the lane. Is this what the township wants to do? This may appear to be a minor problem but when the township office is closed and there are no police on duty it can escalate quickly to a major emergency.

It is understandable that the problems in the larger density areas of our Township need to be addressed, however, it is also important to continue to maintain the health, safety and welfare for the balance of our residents.

Through the years we have received varying reasons why the township did not want to repair or replace the bridge. Some of them were:

1. The size of the bridge – being told it would need to be 40 feet wide to meet PennDOT requirements, only to find PenDOT has approved bridges 28 feet wide.
2. The cost to repair or replace the bridge - These prices varied as the years past.
3. Upper Milford Township doesn’t want the road open to reduce traffic on their roads.
4. Few residents live on Scout road – there are 8 properties that abut the lane
5. Low traffic volumes - A traffic study has never been done.

Scout road bridge has never been a budgeted line item in the Township’s budgets. This year is no exception. The Township budget has $330,814.00 for road department projects and no line item for Scout Road. We were told this money may need to be used for some other project, which is yet to be determined.   

In discussion with a DEP agent, he suggested he was willing to meet with a supervisor to discuss the options that could be used to replace the bridge. I ask that a Supervisor meet with him and find out what his suggestions are. 

It is clear that in today’s economy it will only become more challenging than ever for our township to continue to provide services efficiently and effectively without affecting the health, safety and welfare of its residents. I ask that the Township be more flexible in reviewing alternative options before closing our road.

Thank you for your time and consideration in this matter.

Ann Frey