Newtown Creek Bridge Public Presentation

On June 26, 2025, the Newtown Creek Coalition held a public meeting to present plans for the Newtown Creek Pedestrian Bridge. The following video was created from audio and photos at that meeting. Not all visuals are available.

Some Background

In November 2024, Newtown Township, Newtown Borough, and the Newtown Creek Coalition received a $1 million state grant to fund the design and construction of the Newtown Creek Pedestrian Bridge (read "Sen. Santarsiero and Rep. Warren Announce $1 Million in Funding for Construction of a Pedestrian Bridge"). Spanning the creek between Frost Lane in the Borough and Sycamore Street in the Township, the new bridge will provide safe pedestrian and bicycling circulation between the residential and business districts of Newtown Borough and Newtown Township.

The project is expected to be completed in 2027.

What Do You Think?

Recent comments on Facebook suggest this is a waste of money. To date, 270 people have taken my survey regarding this bridge and the proposed Steeple View bridge and told me what they think.

Some Questions

1. What happens if the maximum 5% ADA-compliant ramp requirement is exceeded? Right now the design calls for 4.9% (at the N Sycamore St end). I was told that there would have to be some excavation to lower the angle. Of course, this would add to the cost.
2. What about flash floods knocking down the bridge? The height of the bridge is 7-8 feet above the creek. At flood level it is only 2 feet.
3. Threading the needle" was mentioned several times, which is concerning.
4. This is called a "Pestrian Bridge," but it is also "multi-modal" meaning it can also be used by bicyclists. However, the width of the deck is only 8 feet, whereas multimodal trains such as the Newtown Trail along Lower Dolington Rd is 10 feet wide. Also, the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) recommends a minimum of 10 feet for multi-use trails, and 12-14 feet for heavy use. Is 8 feet wide enough to accommodate both pedestrians AND bicyclists?
5. What about further resident input? I was told that input might be sought regarding the type of railing used.
6. "Signage" was mentioned - I was interested in this because of the possibility of using the railing to hold mural panels as was suggest for the pedestrian bridge that connects George School and Newtown Borough above the Newtown Bypass (between Buck Road and South State Street): https://sco.lt/7uZgqO The bridge can include "platforms" off the side (not sure what these are called) that may be used for benches and/or mural panels.
7. What about tree removal? There may be a couple of trees that need to be removed. There are plans for extensive planting along the sides of the ramps leading to the bridge.
8. Night illumination was mentioned. Is it safe?