Unbelievable. Things happen and need repairs - no problem there. But all Mr. Minniti can think about is deflecting blame. What kind of truck?? The neighbor already said it was a trash truck. "...anything done by the truck to cause failure." Umm...collecting trash. "It wasn't something where the bridge was unsafe, left or neglected." Clearly it was unsafe, but is anyone saying it was left or neglected? Guilty conscience, Mr. Minniti? Just be glad no one was hurt, repair the bridge and be done with it. Unbelievable.

Christina, thank you for looking into the Devon Bridge. I am confused why months ago the township turned down FEMA money to replace the bridge but now they say the bridge needs to be replaced (with Cinnaminson property owners paying the cost and not FEMA) but yet they still say that the bridge is still safe.
I do not buy the argument that weight restrictions were violated. Still that should be easily confirmed. The trash truck going over that bridge has to be a township trash truck since every Friday is our trash day. Besides, I have never seen another town’s trash truck in my area, it is just too remote.
That bridge has been in bad shape for years. I believe Irene was its fatal blow and I believe the township blew it by turning down federal dollars for replacing it.

This is certainly disconcerting. It has been very clear to me (and I am no engineer) that the bridge has been in serious need of repair and/or replacing since my family moved into the neighborhood 8 years ago. It is for that reason that I always avoid driving over it. An investigation as to why the truck caused the collapse is moot at this point. Let's not waste time and money on investigations and start replacing that bridge TODAY, before someone is seriously injured. What is to stop children from playing in that area, orange blockades??? Those blockades have been blocking the walking path for some time now, but they are easily circumvented.
What disturbs me the most is that the project was delayed because a school bus drives over the bridge on a daily basis. This should have been the main reason to repair/replace it before it got to the dilapidated state it is in now. That could easily have been my children (they have traveled that route on Bus #34 for the past 6 years) who were on the bus when that bridge collapsed. VERY SCARY!!!

Thank you for doing the right thing. As far as Fred Turek NOT returning calls? That is not a surprise! He is the most absent public works superintendent in the history of that department.

I beleive Fred Turek got what he wanted out of the township. A public employees retirement. Well Freddy, you got it. Now do all of us residents a favor. Turn in your township owned (unmarked) SUV and retire from your cushy job. You have done nothing to impress me and this bridge not being in the fore front of a job that should have been moved up in the schedule is the water over the dam!

"To see if the truck did anything to cause the damage" ?!?!? Really, Mr. Minnitti, just when we thought you couldn't sink any lower - no pun intended.
For once, please just do the right thing and fix the bridge instead of deflecting blame. It is sad and frankly, pathetic.
Lucky it wasn't a bus full of kids. Wonder who he would blame then?

I live on Devon and the bridge has been neglected for a few years, I wouldn't have my two sons using it with their wheel chairs. As for the pedestrian walkway,that was really dangerous long before the barriers wer put up.
Cinnaminson residents need that eyesore repaired asap.

Another amazing story. A bridge collapses which has had concerns for years, and even the walking part closed, but some engineer deemed it safe? And Minniti wants to investigate the trash truck? I would think the engineer that deemed it safe is who should be investigated. But we all know how that works. Keep those campaign contributions coming. More priceless township comedy... I mean committee.

@ Bill. I would think the the engineer that inspected it and deemed it safe would have been the townships own engineer. He is on the township payroll listed as the superintendent of public works/ engineer after his name. Then there is a whole list of letters of some sort after the engineer word. I guess that is to impress someone. Who? I don't know.

You would think the btidge would have been a priority, not some sledding hill. Only in cinnaminson will people continue to elect this joker minniti. Read this guys quotes, if I didn't live in this town this would be hilarious.

Christina
Can you explain what the township engineer does as opposed to the engineering company for the township? Also regarding FEMA money, the township looked into getting FEMA monies to fix bridge but couldn't because township engineers said it was structurally safe, is that correcr?

Thank you

I can't believe they are shocked that a trash truck went over the bridge Friday. Friday is trash pick up day on Devon Road!! And why is it ok for it to be closed to pedestrians, for several years?? It is a terrible eyesore.

I think Mr Turek should be held accountable. He is paid to protect us from thinks like this. Who does he think he is that he doesn't need to return calls from Tax payers?

If only we could harness the power of anger from old white republicans in Cinnaminson who get easily riled up over thoughts of Obama's 2nd term... then she would be unbreakable.

We have been trying to get this bridge fixed for years. Constantly asking our "leaders" to actually do some work for the community. The long running solution was to add asphalt and look the other way. O yeah, throw in some giant orange eye sores because they do a lot to fix the problem.

Three years ago, I watched a little boy run up my street, past by my house (Devon Road) screaming because he stepped on a nail while walking across the bridge ~ I was horrified that this child should inflict pain (through his shoe, mind you). All due to the fact that the bridge has been falling apart for years. I grew up on this street. We used love to go down the bridge/creek, as kids to explore etc. Anyway, we called the township (zoning) they stated it was a "county bridge" not the township's problem. Now, suddenly...a trash truck (has already been stated on a Friday, trash day)...driving its usual route...CAVES in bridge/roadway. And they are questioning the weight limit? There are no signs indicating the weight limit for this bridge. Township vehicles use this bridge what once a month with dump trucks and machinery to pick up "brush". and recyclables every other week. C'mon guys just fix the bridge!!! Fix the bridge without looking at tax payers... do not leave this eye sore on Devon Road any longer.

You guys mean to tell me you would rather have a bridge fixed than have a beautiful gazebo and new bathrooms at the park?? Loll seriously RIDICULOUS. Oh yea and we needed a Christmas tree too. Just like we need a circle for the new development...I mean for driving safety.

That bridge has been neglected for years. It should have been replace the same time the one on Wayne was replaced.
Speaking of circles or should I say "roundabouts". The state has been replacing them for years because they've become outdated and not practical for today's traffic.
Who's brain child is this.

Those in our township who are either hired or elected to take care of our town need to get their acts together now. Between the Sewerage Authority debacle and now a bridge that clearly was neglected, it's time Cinnaminson Township starts getting back to the quality this town once had. Enough of the excuses, investigations and misuse of taxpayer dollars. Do your jobs and take care of your residents.

If there were weight restrictions for the bridge, it should have been posted what the weight limit was, plain and simple. Mr Minnitti do you have any idea how much a school bus weighs? I would think that a trash truck and school bus weights are both well over 15 tons! Please don't pass the blame, be responsible. That's all we "residents" are asking for some accountability. By passing the blame it makes you look very untrustworthy!