The iron truss bridge that spans Jacob’s Creek has been an integrated part of the area’s landscape since 1882. Built on the path of the Victory Trail, the same path that General George Washington and his troops are said to have marched on their way to the Battle of Trenton in 1776, the bridge holds a historic significance that links the present to the Revolutionary War era.

For 40 years, residents and officials of the Hopewell and Ewing area have struggled to find a way to compromise between preserving the historic Jacob’s Creek Bridge and replacing it with a long term, financially responsible and safe span.

County Executive Brian Hughes said that after years of public meetings, it is time to move forward with the latter.

“From the County’s perspective, the fact that the bridge was closed for over a year and the state rated it the least structurally sound bridge in the County, we felt we couldn’t put money into an obsolete bridge,” Hughes said.

Currently, Jacob’s Creek Bridge is closed to all traffic, including emergency vehicles, fire trucks and school buses.

Hughes said the County has decided to move forward with a $5 million dollar project that will build a new bridge over Jacob’s Creek adjacent to the existing bridge and realign Bear Tavern Road. The new bridge will be designed to current standards that include no weight restrictions, but the structure of the new bridge has not yet been determined. Additionally, the existing bridge will be rehabilitated.

According to a document released by the county, Mercer County has secured funding from the state Department of Transportation through the Annual Transportation Program. However, in order to receive funds the bridge must be designed to current standards that include unlimited weight restrictions and lane widths amongst other specifications.

Hughes said the County presented options that preserve the historic nature of the bridge and Jacob’s Creek to concerned residents. The county suggested moving Jacob’s Creek Bridge in its entirety to Alliger Park, or keeping the bridge in place for pedestrians as a place to bike, picnic and experience the Victory Trail.

However, Hopewell Township resident Sara Cooper is not satisfied with a plan of action that does not preserve the original landscape of Jacob’s Creek area. As a member of the Save the Victory Trail and Jacob’s Creek effort, a non-partisan group of citizens dedicated to preserving the historic site, she believes the retaining walls that accompany the new bridge will destroy the aesthetics of Washington’s Victory trail.

“Here, we have the opportunity to find an innovative solution that preserves the land’s historical character,” Cooper said. “There are win-win options.”

Deputy Mayor Michael Markulec is also in favor of finding a solution that meets both the County and resident’s goals. Markulec said the Township proposed alternative plans to the County that involved widening and strengthening the current bridge so it meets state standards.

“Jacob’s Creek is the only area that resembles the landscape of 200 years ago. It’s a unique piece of history and we should preserve it,” he said.

According to the document released by the County, the current structure of Jacobs Creek Bridge will not lend itself to partial removal or widening.

Along with safeguarding the historical significance of the site, a new bridge with an unlimited weight limit poses traffic concerns for residents, especially on the steep, curvy portion of Bear Tavern Road in Ewing.

Ewing resident Helenmarie Dolton lives one block from Jacob’s Creek Bridge. Before its closure in 2009, she said trucks would come off Interstate 95 onto Bear Tavern Road, ignoring the weight restrictions and speed limits.

“People in the area want the bridge to be rehabilitated to accommodate emergency vehicles and school busses, but it’s a residential, rural area and the bridge being planned is not appropriate,” Dolton said.

Hughes and the County sent in a request to the State Department of Transportation to disallow trucks on Bear Tavern Road.
“We want to keep trucks on 31, we don’t want the road to become a short cut,” he said.

Hughes said he and the County recognize the historic significance of the area, but for the sake of safety, believe it is time to move forward with the final plans of an engineering design.

Cooper and the Save the Trail and Jacob’s Bridge Group continue their preservation efforts. She said the group is in the process of adding the site to state and national historic registers, and should receive a response from the registers by June.