Rally held at Champlain Bridge

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October 25, 2009

By LOHR McKINSTRY The Press Republican Sun Oct 25, 2009, 07:02 PM EDT

CROWN POINT — More than 50 people showed up Sunday for a rally protesting the hardship caused by the closing of the Champlain Bridge.

Workers and business owners affected by the closure gathered at the entrance to the bridge connecting Crown Point and Chimney Point, Vt.

Some carried protest signs as they listened to the Rev. David Hirtle of the First Congregational Church of Crown Point talk about the impact of shutting down the 1929 span on Oct. 16.

“What we’re doing here is not disobedience,” Hirtle said. “If we can look at diversity and see opportunity, there is a chance of success.“

He said the closure of the bridge after cracks were found in concrete support pillars has had a tremendous impact on those who use the bridge to get to and from work.

“It has affected us adversely. But this is a moment of opportunity God has given every one of us. We as a community can link arms and move ahead.”

Moriah Supervisor Thomas Scozzafava said a public information forum at 7 p.m. Wednesday at Moriah Central School may provide some answers.

“They’re going to redo the piers on the bridge. They’re going to get it back so it can be open.”

Crown Point Supervisor Dale French said he was told Gov. David Paterson is planning to attend Wednesday’s meeting in Moriah to make the announcement.

“I think it may be good news (from the governor). I hope it will be good news.”

Since then, ferries around the bridge have expanded their hours, but most people say they can’t afford the cost of taking a ferry every day.

Scozzafava said state officials are working on getting a temporary ferry set up at the Champlain Bridge itself.

A great deal of anger is being directed at the Department of Transportation, he said, and Paterson has called for an investigation into why the bridge was allowed to deteriorate to the critical stage.

“I know we’re very upset. The immediate problem is we need to find a way to get people back and forth across this lake.”

Bridge engineering firm HNTB of New York City is reported recommending encapsulation of the existing piers with new concrete, although the process would take a month or two to complete.

One of those at the rally was Bethany Kosmider of Crown Point, an Independence Party candidate for town supervisor. She and Robert Pell-deChame, a Democratic Ticonderoga town supervisor candidate, and Margaret Bartley, an independent Elizabethtown Town Council candidate, went to Washington, D.C., recently and met with federal legislators about the bridge.

Kosmider said they talked with the staffs of Sen. Charles Schumer (D-NY), Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Rep. Scott Murphy (D-NY) and others about solutions to the bridge crisis.

“I went to Washington to talk to our legislators because there didn’t seem to be any interest locally. It appears to me that fear has gripped those who are supposed to be making decisions, and this is serious.”

She said blaming DOT or anyone for the crisis is not useful at this point.

“A decision needs to be made immediately for relief for the thousands that need to cross the bridge daily for jobs, businesses, commerce and medical needs. Pointing fingers is something children do.”

Many business owners have said they may be closing or laying off staffs and cutting hours if the bridge isn’t repaired soon.

A plan is being developed to use buses to get around the bridge, Essex County Department of Public Works Superintendent Frederick Buck said.

“One of the things they’re working on is to run two big buses. They will take people directly to their place of work at no charge. They will be going on Route 4.”

The official DOT detour is an extra 82 miles through Whitehall on Route 4.

Mary Jane Weld of Crown Point said she knows the detour well because the ferries stop running by 8 p.m. or earlier.

“I work second shift so the ferries don’t do me much good. I can get to work on the ferry, but I have to drive home through Whitehall. It adds 90 minutes.”

E-mail Lohr McKinstry at:

lmckinstry@pressrepublican.com