Crumbling bridge poses hazard

SPARTA — A massive antique stone bridge that was once a part of the Ogden mining operation may be examined by the state after a local man noticed brittle mortar, bulging walls and other signs of structural failure.

The short span is located on Milton Road just East of Glen Road in Sparta Township.

"It's kind of sad, but if one of those blocks fall down, it could crush somebody," said resident Ed Ruess.

Ruess, a union carpenter, began seeing more pronounced signs of dangers with the bridge after Hurricane Sandy damaged the immediate area, toppling trees that collapsed power lines and brought down electrical poles.

After the storm, the utility JCP&L hastily worked to rehang wires traveling under the bridge, but the anchor bolts workers drilled into the bridge's mortar have since failed.

Ruess said he has been rebuffed by local authorities who claim the property is not theirs to fix.

Signs at the top of bridge indicate the property is part of a wildlife management area of the Department of Environmental Protection's Division of Fish and Wildlife, which Ruess notified in March.

"The Department is currently researching the ownership of the property," said DEP spokesman Larry Hajna.

Hajna said that he expected a determination about the status of the bridge sometime in the coming days.