By LOHR McKINSTRY
CROWN POINT — The Champlain Bridge Project Public Advisory Committee has voted to recommend construction of a modified network-tied arch bridge to replace the shuttered Champlain Bridge.
The State Department of Transportation presented six bridge designs to the public at a series of identical public-information hearings Saturday.
Those who couldn't make the meetings were given until midnight Monday to vote online for a design.
The Advisory Committee then met Tuesday to review the input, and Assemblywoman Teresa Sayward (R-Willsboro), who chairs the Advisory Committee, said that the modified network-tied arch was the group's selection to replace the closed bridge.
She said lead engineer Ted Zoli of bridge-design firm HNTB came up with the sixth design at the panel's request just hours before the public meetings began at 9:30 a.m.
"I was working on it at 3 a.m.," Zoli said.
The modified network-tied arch bridge most closely resembles the continuous-truss bridge there now. That span was built in 1929 to connect Crown Point with Addison, Vt.
More than one-third of the votes cast were for the modified network-tied arch bridge, while the other five got varying numbers of votes.
Crown Point Supervisor-elect Bethany Kosmider, a PAC member, said Wednesday that she agrees with the selection.
"We voted on the bridge design (Tuesday) and chose Design No. 6 — the modified network-tied arch bridge. There will be sidewalks on both sides with passage for bicycles. It's a go."
The next step is for the DOT to accept or reject the recommendation. The bridge will be designed over the winter, with construction to start in spring 2010. The bridge is projected to have an opening in summer 2011.
The bridge closed Oct. 16 after extensive cracks and erosion were discovered in its concrete pillars. It was declared irreparable.
DOT says the network-tied bridge would have moderate construction time and low maintenance costs.
E-mail Lohr McKinstry at: lmckinstry@pressrepublican.com
