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Lohr McKinstry
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Vital bridge at Crown Point closed
[-BULLET-] Structural integrity of concrete piers at issue; span closed indefinitely
Essex-Charlotte
Ferry Schedule
www.ferries.com/south_schedule.asp
Cost: $9.50 one-way, $18 round-trip.
Fort Ticonderoga
Ferry Schedule
www.middlebury.net/tiferry
Cost: $8 one-way, $14 round-trip.
CROWN POINT — After an inspection showed it could collapse, the massive Champlain Bridge connecting New York and Vermont was closed indefinitely Friday afternoon.
Two of the bridge's concrete piers had significant erosion below the water line, State Department of Transportation Regional Structural Engineer Thomas Hoffman said.
"There was a fairly significant loss (of concrete)," Hoffman said at a press conference early Friday evening at the bridge.
"Under certain conditions we were afraid the bridge could fail abruptly."
The bridge was already restricted to one-lane traffic while structural steel repairs were being made.
Signs and barricades went up at 1:30 p.m. Friday at the entrances to the bridge in Crown Point and Chimney Point, Vt., and on the end of Bridge Road at Route 9N/22. Message boards were also placed on the Adirondack Northway.
Hoffman said DOT is working on solutions as fast as possible.
"We're going to be working as quickly as we can to reopen that bridge. We'd like to have it back open for winter before ice sets in."
He said since there's already a contractor there working on bridge repairs, it might be possible to just expand the scope of work to include repairs to the piers.
Sen. Betty Little (R-Queensbury) was at the bridge, and said she's asked Gov. David Paterson to declare a state of emergency for the bridge. Such a declaration would enable more rapid repairs to be made, and might provide financial aid for those people who now need to take daily ferry trips to get to work.
Essex County Board of Supervisors Chair Cathy Moses (R-Schroon) declared a county state of emergency for the bridge Friday evening.
The sudden closing impacted the almost 4,000 drivers a day who cross the vital link between the two states.
Marion Sullivan of Vergennes, Vt., who owns Crown Point Discount Grocery with her husband, said their business, like many others, will be harmed by the closing.
"It's going to hurt us dearly. It will be devastating to our business. A lot of our traffic is Vermonters who come here and shop at our store as they're passing through.
"We live in Vermont, and it adds an extra two hours onto our trip," she added.
She said she'd be going home via the Fort Ticonderoga Ferry, which runs only from 8 a.m. to 5:45 p.m. and is slated to close for the season Oct. 31.
"The ferry isn't cheap. I called the DOT and said, 'How are we supposed to get home?' He said, 'We're sending people to Route 4 in Whitehall.' That's four hours longer."
The other alternative is the Essex-Charlotte Ferry, which now runs from 6 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. daily.
"It's going to be really hard," Sullivan said. "The DOT couldn't give me any time frame. Are we talking days, weeks or months? They didn't know."
DOT Region 1 Director Mary Ivey said she realizes the detour through Whitehall is extremely long.
"We're very, very aware of the challenges this is going to create for truckers, farmers, commuters. We concluded the risk was at an unacceptable level to keep the bridge open."
Little said a tragedy may have been averted by the closure of the bridge.
"I was told that the piers can be repaired, but was not provided a timeline as to when it will happen. I will push for an answer. Right now, I am in the process of reaching out to local elected officials to discuss with them their ideas to ensure the needs of travelers, especially those that rely on crossing the bridge daily, can be accommodated as best as possible until the repairs are made."
Crown Point Town Supervisor Dale French said he hopes this will speed up the repair or replacement process, but the short-term effect of the closing still needs to be addressed.
"It's going to be horrible. Farmers are still cutting corn over here. I've been saying for three years they were going to close it."
He noted the ferries add significant time to the trip.
"There are no good alternatives here," French said.
Essex County Emergency Services Director Donald Jaquish said many emergency vehicles use the bridge daily.
"There are ambulances going to Fletcher Allen Health Care and Porter Medical Center (in Middlebury), and fire departments provide mutual aid from both sides. There could be lives at stake here."
Representatives of both Lake Champlain Transportation, which owns the Essex-Charlotte Ferry, and the Fort Ticonderoga Ferry said they're working on plans to increase hours and service.
Ticonderoga Town Supervisor Robert C. Dedrick said the owners of the Ticonderoga Ferry are putting in temporary lights so they can run the ferry after dark.
Motorist Craig Jackson said he was stuck in traffic waiting to board the Essex-Charlotte Ferry.
"There is significant traffic congestion in Essex due to the Champlain Bridge closure. Tractor trailers and other vehicles are backed up on both sides of Main Street/Route 22 awaiting ferry boarding."
Dedrick said traffic was also backed up for a considerable distance at both sides of the Ticonderoga Ferry.
E-mail Lohr McKinstry at: lmckinstry@pressrepublican.com
- Local News
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Area's state legislators recognized for taxpayer support
Sen. Betty Little ranked first in the Senate, while Assemblywomen Janet Duprey and Teresa Sayward ranked 23rd and 25th, respectively, when Unshackle Upstate released its 2010 Legislative Scorecards.
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Essex County layoffs debated
The Essex County Board of Supervisors isn't sure it wants to include layoffs in its early retirement incentive plan.
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City school mulls new tax
A utility tax would force everyone to help cover the costs of public education, while reducing the amount property owners pay in terms of property taxes.
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Capital project continues for City School
School officials say it has been a long summer with some setbacks, but work is moving forward and the outcome will benefit students.
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Tribes celebrate cigarette-tax stay
St. Regis Mohawk will be included in the temporary stay on tribal cigarette sales-tax collection.
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Ti lakeshore zoning gets rewrite
Water quality and quality of life are being touted as components of revised Ticonderoga waterfront zoning.
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Construction begins on new sidewalk along School Street in Peru
Workers have begun installing a sidewalk along School Street in the hamlet of Peru that will allow safer access to school property for students walking to and from school during the busy morning and afternoon commutes.
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Champlain Telephone Employee Stock Ownership Plan approved
President and CEO Trent Trahan will sell his majority shares to the company's non-union workers. They will get stock based on their years of employment and will be reimbursed for them when they retire.
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Women in wartime: heros, helpmates, history makers
The annual commemoration of the Battle of Plattsburgh begins this week, culminating in a remarkable mix of events over next weekend, writes columnist Richard Frost.
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P-R wins 5 Associated Press awards
Press-Republican staff takes home five awards in the 2009-10 New York State Associated Press contest.
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Ellenburg man opens dive shop in brother's memory
As he copes with the loss of his younger brother, Archie Jones hopes to teach others about scuba diving, something Melvin Jones became passionate about before his death.
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Women offered chance to boost self image
Program gives participants an opportunity to look and feel their best.
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A day in paradise
Chris Fasolino opens a window on the peaceful, stunningly beautiful village of Amalfi in Italy.
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Bed Race deadline extended
People have more time to sign up teams for Sept. 11 Rotary Red Race.
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Of Interest: Sept. 5, 2010
PSU accepting spring '11 applications; Lake Placid School Board meeting set; Westport School Board agenda planned
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Business Briefs: Sept. 5, 2010
Labor Day donation; Deadline extended; Health forum; School program; Grant received.
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Farm Briefs: Sept. 5, 2010
Hay and pasture insurance expands; High-tunnel crops experience success; Online courses for beginning farmers debut; Local dairy recognized as eco-friendly farm.
- September 4, 2010
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City school mulls new tax
A utility tax would force everyone to help cover the costs of public education, while reducing the amount property owners pay in terms of property taxes.
-
Ti lakeshore zoning gets rewrite
Water quality and quality of life are being touted as components of revised Ticonderoga waterfront zoning.
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West Chazy meat market burns
D&D Meats and its upstairs apartments are now a total loss, but the owners' house next door was saved.
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Area's state legislators recognized for taxpayer support
