Skit Branch bridge closed - advisory from Wharton

[lj762]

I just saw this advisory posted on the Wharton State Forest web page and thought it might be of interest.

The bridge over Skits Branch in Wharton State Forest is closed effective October 11, 2017. Physical barriers and signs have been posted at both ends of the bridge. The bridge sustained damage by a suspected large, heavy vehicle. NJDOT will be assisting the State Park Service with its repair.

(I think they got the name wrong: should be Skit Branch, not Skits Branch?)

(Does anyone have a picture of the bridge? Is it something a sane person driving a "suspected large, heavy vehicle" would try to cross?)

 

[bobpbx]

I wonder if it's the bridge on Carranza road, or the one downstream by Hampton Furnace.

 

[ecampbell]

I can think of 3 Skit bridges, Carranza Road which was open today, Batona Camp and HF. The one at HF is closed to motor vehicles anyway.

 

[PINEY WARDEN]

It is the little wooden Bridge on White Horse Road at the Skit Branch just north of the Batona Grass Field.

 

[bobpbx]

It is the little wooden Bridge on White Horse Road at the Skit Branch just north of the Batona Grass Field.

Oh, thanks. That is a very small bridge.

 

[bobpbx]

I can think of 3 Skit bridges, Carranza Road which was open today, Batona Camp and HF. The one at HF is closed to motor vehicles anyway.

Ed, are you saying it is blocked or otherwise no longer suitable, or are you saying it's just a sign there?

 

[PINEY WARDEN]

Ed, are you saying it is blocked or otherwise no longer suitable, or are you saying it's just a sign there?

Bob it is gonna be blocked off. Hopefully will be repaired quickly.

 

[bobpbx]

Bob it is gonna be blocked off. Hopefully will be repaired quickly.

PW: when I asked that I meant the bridge at Hampton Furnace in response to Ed's post (where he mentions the bridge at HF). I should have been more clear.

 

[ecampbell]

Ed, are you saying it is blocked or otherwise no longer suitable, or are you saying it's just a sign there?

Just signs at HF leading to it saying NO MOTORIZED VEHICLES. The bridge is very serviceable.

 

[bobpbx]

Just signs at HF leading to it saying NO MOTORIZED VEHICLES. The bridge is very serviceable.

Thanks Ed, that's what I thought.

 

[this_is_nascar]

From the WSF Facebook page.

PARK ADVISORY - The bridge over Skits Branch (behind the Batona Campground) in Wharton State Forest is closed effective October 11, 2017. Physical barriers and signs have been posted at both ends of the bridge. Sorrow House Road is most affected by this closure. The bridge sustained damage by a suspected large, heavy vehicle. NJDOT will be assisting the State Park Service with its repair.

 

[ecampbell]

The bridge is old and rotten. Two years ago they replaced a plank that broke in the middle of the span. Note that the planks are not supported on the outside ends and snapped at the support beam. Last year a spike kept walking out. The heaviest vehicles I see using this bridge are the FFS power wagons.

And now for something completely different.
On the back of the sign at the bridge.

 

[lj762]

I see Batona pink "turn here" blazes on the back of that sign. But that bridge isn't part of the Batona trail, right?

I wonder if the person who drove the 'suspect vehicle' over the bridge even knew what happened. And if he did, what was the second word out of his mouth when he realized his tire broke through...

 

[ecampbell]

That bridge is on the Batona Trail and is OK to walk.

 

[lj762]

I'm thinking what happened is maybe something like this.

------
(Apology to ecampbell for trashing your photo.)
(Truck is CC BY 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons, by D'oh Boy (Mark Holloway))