Clinton Township Newsletter

1 8 S e p t e m b e r 2 0 1 4 www.ClintonTwpNewsletter.com Joseph f. Trinity Steven d. Farsiou 47 MAPLE AVENUE, SUITE 7 FLEMINGTON, NJ 08822 908.824.7265 w w w. T r i n i t ya n d Fa rsio u . c o m • PERSONAL INJURY • EMPLOYMENT LITIGATION • CRIMINAL/MUNICIPAL COURT • ANTI-BULLYING LAW • GENERAL CIVIL LITIGATION t h e c l i n t o n t o w n S h i p h i S t o r i c a l p r e S e r v a t i o n c o m m i S S i o n History Under Foot: The Bridges of Hunterdon County B y m i k e h a t h a w a y Driving Hunterdon's country roads and byways is a pleasure we may sometimes take for granted. The rural setting, open land and variety of well maintained homes and farms all contribute to setting the unique scene. The varied web of small roads crossing streams and rivers connecting hamlets and smaller districts helps create the scale and context so critical to the fabric of the Hunterdon County landscape. In Hunterdon County, we are also lucky to have one of the larg- est densities of historic bridges (per county) in the Country. Although maintained and occasionally widened or expanded, many of these crossings are still in service after more than one hundred years. In addition to the density of these historic crossings, there are a number of unique and well-preserved examples of steel truss bridges right here in Clinton Township. A long and thorough assessment of historic bridges by the State Department of Transportation includes a great number of crossings in Hunterdon County. Although steel truss bridges are more scarce in southern counties, Hunterdon, and specifically Clinton Township, is home to a variety of designs, fabricators and pedigrees. A quick survey of roads in and around the Township begins a list of many wonderful crossings, including such memorable bridges as the Hamden Road and Landsdown spans. Traveling through Cokesbury to Mountainville and beyond, one can also enjoy a number of stone arch bridges like those at Cokesbury Road and Water Street, Haytown Road near Woods Road or the 1875 Herman Thau crossing over Beaver Brook. Although stone arch bridges and culverts can be found in abundance throughout the area, the steel trusses remain most visible and perhaps noteworthy. The regular use of steel truss bridges began sometime near the middle of the nineteenth century, characterized by the proliferation of many different designs and varied truss structures. By the beginning of the twentieth century we start to see more regularity in truss design and construction, which perhaps set the stage for a variety of span construction projects under the WPA of the 1930's. The prominence of a few key manufacturers and their designs and materials is evidenced in Clinton Township and Hunterdon County by the regular appearance of Pheonix or Keystone columns and parts as well as the Pratt Truss design. Our steel bridges show up in either single or multiple spans, described by the presence or lack of piers in the water. The Payne Road crossing is a wonderful example of a single span as it crosses Prescott Brook. There are also a substantial amount of "Pony-type" bridges, identified by a lack of overhead cross bracing. A few good examples of this type can be found where Kiceniuk Road and Hamden Road cross the South Branch. Although the study of truss design and bridge construction is enough for doctoral dissertation, even the most untrained eye can appreciate the variety and firmament of these steel structures and their noteworthy affect on the look of our Township. The value of our historic spans goes well beyond their visual appeal. Many of these narrow crossings or one lane bridges would not be permitted under modern transportation regulations. For example, the rare and wonderfully preserved Landsdown steel truss bridge on the way to Franklin Township would most likely not be approved as a modern structure, although the classic Pheonix Column Span is still strong and working hard after more than one hundred years of service. It is important to understand how much our unique and historic crossings contribute to the character of the Township and the County. Although perhaps unintentionally, these narrow spans continue to exert just enough pressure to slow down traffic and keep our roadways scaled for the rural context. Just think how different traveling along the South Branch would be if our bridges suddenly opened to two or more lanes or perhaps the roadway was prepared for heavy traffic. There are many reasons to love living in Clinton Township and surrounding Hunterdon County, but I would argue that we owe a great debt of gratitude to the historic bridges and the agencies that maintain them for keeping the scale of our community as it was; a small fabric of roads, neighborhoods and interconnected residents. Had we not built durable structures or maintained them throughout the years, Clinton Township may very well have grown at a different pace. In your commute to work or while travel- ing the backroads, take a second look at the bridge you may have missed. Explore the value of these spans to our collective history and the community. – Michael R. Hathaway, Managing Partner, Revival Construction, LLC "Anyone who thinks the art of conversation is dead ought to tell a child to go to bed. 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