Officials mull options to stop bridge piling jumpers

Milton Police Chief Richard Krauss explains law enforcement options with regard to jumpers to from left, Lebanon Selectmen Chair Karen Gerrish, Milton Selectmen Chairman Tom Gray and Milton Town Administrator Liz Dionne. (Harrison Thorp photo).

WEST LEBANON - If you deconstruct it, they won’t come.

While no official consensus was reached, removal of the New Bridge Road bridge substructure, either just the top planking or perhaps as far down as the waterline, seemed to draw the most interest on Thursday as officials from Lebanon and Milton discussed ways to stop teenagers from jumping into the paths of boats as they ply the channel between Northeast and Milton ponds.

Kids had been jumping off the New Bridge Road bridge for generations, so it was really no surprise to Lebanon and Milton officials that they continue to jump off what little substructure is left after its removal last fall.

The only problem is it’s gotten more dangerous.

With just a narrow plank above three sets of pilings, teenagers often fall clambering up cross planks or off the narrow plank atop the pilings into the path of boats that have scant room to maneuver through the narrow channel, explained Everetts Cover Marina owner Jeff Everett.

Everett was one of several concerned citizens who met with officials from both towns as well as Milton Police on Thursday to discuss the age-old problem and possible options to finally put an end to it.

Lebanon has already ordered signs for its side of the bridge undercarriage that will have words to the effect, “Stay off per Town of Lebanon,” Selectmen Chair Karen Gerrish noted.

Meanwhile, Milton Town Administrator Liz Dionne said she sent an email to the Maine DOT inquiring if they were pursuing an option of removing the pilings down to the lake bottom.

Removal of the entire substructure was the optimum consensus among officials, but the rub is the cost and permitting process with environmental agencies from both states getting into the mix.

Another option floated by Lebanon Selectman Ben Thompson was to at least remove the planking on top, which would likely not require any permitting and make it much less attractive for teen daredevils, who besides jumping into the paths of boats, continue to hurl rocks, expletives and intimidating threats to passing boaters.

“It’s getting really bad,” said a resident from Milton who lives near the bridge. “Last weekend I had kids at my house and they had to hear the yelling and swearing.”

Everett said two swimmers were hit last summer, falling into the path of boats, but luckily there were no injuries.

Milton Police Chief Richard Krauss said the bridge jumping ordinance Milton has doesn’t apply anymore because there is no bridge decking.

Trespassing on the roads behind the fences and pilings, however would apply if signs were properly displayed and would make young offenders liable for a misdemeanor.

Everett, however, noted most kids climb down the banks to the water and know enough to go to the Maine side if they see Milton Police.