People have taken to leaving Love Locks on a scenic overlook bridge that travels over Interstate 295 near Bordentown.
A little bit of Paris whimsy has made its way to busy Interstate 295 near Bordentown, and we don't know whether to be charmed ... or alarmed.
For more than five years, France's romantic capital has been known for its so-called Love Locks: padlocks that couples attach to the iron grillwork of bridges spanning the Seine River as a testament to their undying affection.
After affixing the locks, the enamored pair would throw the keys into the murky waters below.
Tourists from near and far have included the bridges as a must-see on their itineraries, up there with the Eiffel Tower, the Louvre and the spires of Notre Dame.
But, alas, all that love ultimately proved too much of a burden on the bridges' infrastructure, posing a risk that chunks of metal could rain down on boats below.
Love locked down on N.J. bridge
As quickly as officials replaced sections of the Pont des Arts bridge, new locks would appear, until last summer, when Paris workers began dismantling the mesh panels for good, hauling off hundreds of thousands of the locks - 45 tons' worth in all.
As it traverses New Jersey from south to north, Route 295 bears little resemblance to the picturesque and fabled Seine - well, actually, no resemblance at all.
Still, love has found a way to blossom here, as more than 100 couples have taken a cue from their Parisian counterparts.
The padlocks bear etched and painted messages such as Sue + Rudy sitting in a tree kissing; Kim and Roy 3/16; Akshita (heart) Luke 5/3/14. One simply says I (heart) my dad. Some have no names, only an engagement date or an etching.
They're attached to the metal fencing of the pedestrian bridge near the scenic overlook at a bend of the Delaware River south of Trenton. There's even an Instagram page devoted to them.
So far, these love souvenirs are pretty sparse and still endearing. They block no views, and we can only hope they're securely enough attached that no rogue lock falls and bounces off the windshield of a truck hauling concrete or chickens.
Yet we also recognize that where one person sees an expression of love, another sees an act of vandalism.
It's an issue that city officials in Paris, Berlin, London and New York are already grappling with, with various approaches, and now New Jersey has joined their ranks.
As delightful as the padlocks are, we share the officials' concerns if the trend gains traction locally.
Note to lovers: How about a tattoo instead?