Andover, NJ|Featured Classified|Announcement|
Cranberry Lake Footbridge does not get funding for restoration
ATTENTION
The Board of Directors of Save Our Bridge, Inc. (SOB) has an important update about the status of the footbridge.
Dear Residents of Cranberry Lake and the Surrounding Sussex County Community,
On Friday, September 25, we received a communication from the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP). The email states:
"We are following up after consultation with The Governor's Office (Mikie Sherrill) The Department will not be investing additional funds at this time in further study and evaluation toward repair or reconstruction of the bridge."
"If the Cranberry Lake Community Club or the Save Our Bridge group identify future funds to at least match at fifty percent cost share in the final planning study and needed construction to either significantly repair or replace the pedestrian bridge, we would be happy to revisit this decision."
You can find a full copy of the NJDEP email dated Sept 25th and the SOB's response dated Oct 7th posted below in order to be fully transparent to our supporters. We have underlined important sentences that need your attention.
Save Our Bridge (SOB) is devastated by this news particularly since the State of New Jersey's own survey published in October 2025 stated that the Sussex Footbridge at Cranberry Lake is repairable. Furthermore, over the last 30 months NJDEP has repeatedly advised Save Our Bridge, Inc to remain "patient" for the next steps forward.
Since receiving the decision on Sept. 25, the SOB Board of Directors has been actively reviewing all available options. We are exploring potential legal remedies to challenge this outcome. In addition, we are evaluating the renewal of our application to place the Sussex Footbridge at Cranberry Lake on the New Jersey and National Historic Properties lists.
Without your continued community activism, the New Jersey State Government will likely prioritize funding for high-profile projects while ignoring the needs of rural communities like ours.
The State has the capacity and resources to fix this historic bridge, but we need to urge our elected officials to rethink their decision . Governor Sherrill promised during her campaign to "get stuff done." While significant funds—such as $100M in federal post-COVID rescue funds—were allocated to South Jersey boardwalk repairs, our local needs were left behind. There are creative funding solutions available including $44M in the 2026 NJ DOT Local Bridge Fund.
Our seniors, children and vacationers are waiting for this bridge to safely reopen. Please do not let the State assume our public outcry will fade away. We urge you to contact Governor Sherrill, Commissioner Ed Potosnak, and our 24th District state representatives using the contact details below and ask them to prioritize repairing and restoring this historic landmark. Contact should be made not just 1 time but every month until there is a plan we agree with.
We thank you for the excellent support thus far and we need you to continue to push this effort every month to the finish line
Contact Information:
Governor Mikie Sherrill
https://www.nj.gov/governor/contact/
State of New Jersey
PO Box 001
Trenton, NJ 08608
Commissioner Ed Potosnak
New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection
Mail Code 401-07
PO Box 402
Trenton, NJ 08625-0402
Phone: 609-292-2885
Senator Parker Space
24th Legislative District (our regional State Senator)
One Wilson Drive
Sparta, NJ 07871
Phone: 973-300-0200
Please always be polite and respectful and ask for a response.
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Sincerely,
Sue Canning
President Save Our Bridge
Byram, New Jersey 07821
Brian Lanci - Vice President
Cindy Lisk - Secretary
Lois McCarthy - Treasurer
Bill Collins
Mike Francois
