The Portland-Columbia Pedestrian Bridge (or as it’s formally known, The Portland-Columbia Toll Supported Pedestrian Bridge) is a footbridge that crosses the Delaware River, at Portland, in Upper Mount Bethel Township, Pennsylvania, connecting to Columbia, in Knowlton Township, Warren County.  The bridge is owned and operated by the Delaware River Joint Toll Bridge Commission. Today’s bridge was built on earlier bridge’s stone piers.

STORY BEHIND THE PHOTO OF THE WEEK:

Wondering what site/sight I would be visiting.  Thinking of the beautiful autumn colors and suddenly I was thinking about the Portland-Columbia Pedestrian Bridge!  Been there many, many times. Wonderful views, not many bridges exclusively for pedestrians, and maybe get some Autumn colors! Better check my insidewarren.com list of articles I’ve written, don’t want to repeat myself.  Go through all the articles and discovered to my relief, this has never been a topic before!!  I did notice there have been some photos from here included in other articles; that doesn’t surprise me, this is a wonderful vantage point in a great area!!  Okay, I’m ready for my visit, which took place this past Saturday – PERFECT WEATHER!  During my visit, a lot of reminders and memories of events and activities popped into my mind, and though perhaps I can weave them into my article!  AND, I discovered new stuff!

DID YOU KNOW?

• “Site of the last of 16 covered bridges that once spanned the Delaware – erected 1831-1869  Destroyed by flood Aug.-19-1955”  Info from a plaque erected by Troop 29 BSA Easton, PA located on the Portland side of the bridge.

• This was the longest covered bridge in the United States at 775 feet long and 18 feet wide.  Presently, the Smolen-Gulf Bridge built in 2008 Ashtabula County, Ohio at 613 ft. is the longest in the USA!!  Longest in the world is the Hartland Bridge, Hartland, New Brunswick, Canada at 1282 feet. 

• Bridge is the western end of the ‘Liberty-Water Gap Trail’ being developed in New Jersey as a part of the nation’s September 11^th National Memorial Trail.  There is signage about this on the Portland side.

• Francis Myerhoff, owner of the Columbia Glass Works, received a charter to build the bridge across the river to help in the delivery of sand he needed for his factory in New Jersey.  Bridge was completed in January 1869.

• Bridge also aided farmers with the movement of their livestock from New Jersey to the Portland rail yard.

• Bridge built by the Charles, Kellogg and Maurice Co. of Athens, Pennsylvania, (later the Union Bridge Co.) for a cost of $40,000

• The Delaware River designated by Congress as a Scenic & Wild Partner River.  The Upper-Mid and Lower sections all have this designation. 

• The Delaware River was nationally recognized as ‘River of the Year 2020’

• Looking west from atop this bridge the Appalachian Trail crosses atop Mount Minsi in the Delaware Water Gap on the Pennsylvania side of the river.

• There are only two exclusively pedestrian bridges over the Delaware River:  The Portland-Columbia Pedestrian Bridge and The Lumberville-Raven Rock Bridge, also known as the Lumberville Foot Bridge.  The bridge connects Bull’s Island Recreation Area near Raven Rock, Delaware Township in Hunterdon County to Lumberville, Solebury Township in Bucks County, Pennsylvania.  Both bridges are toll free and owned and operated by the Delaware River Joint Toll Bridge Commission.

HISTORY:

The original structure, constructed in 1869 as a vehicular bridge, was four-span timber bridge reinforced with wooden arches.  The entire structure was protected from weather by a wooden shed topped by a slate roof.  December 1, 1953, all vehicular traffic was re-routed over to the new Portland-Columbia Toll Bridge, constructed just south of the old bridge.  The last of its kind on the Delaware River, three spans of this historical bridge floated off its piers during Hurricane Diane in August 1955.  The present four-span continuous, thru-deck girder superstructure was constructed along with pier and abutment revisions in 1957-58.                                           

NOTHING’S FOR FREE:

The arrival of the automobile increased travel to such a degree that the bridge was deemed a “gold mine”  Beginning about 1917, the toll was collected by Charles Newbaker and rates were:  20 cents one way and 25 cents round trip for a coupe auto.  25 cents one way and 40 cents round trip for touring autos.  2 cents each way for pedestrians and horseback riders.  For the farmer driving animals across the bridge the fare was 20 cents one way and 40 cents round trip for a double team.  Wheelbarrows and express wagons were charged 4 cents each way.  A man, wife and family crossed for 50 cents a month, while storekeepers and coalmen passed for 20 cents a round trip.  The ONLY thing that crossed the bridge free was a baby carriage!!!

Interesting links:

The Scenic and Wild Delaware River Site is an excellent, interesting and enjoyable article

Delaware River Bridges at Charlie Fineran’s Flickr

Delaware River Joint Toll Bridge Commission site

Enjoy Your Open Space

Charlie Fineran

Charlie Fineran is Allamuchy’s Director of Open Space, Allamuchy Township Environmental Commission Chairman and Allamuchy Historical Society President.