Ice closes Ti ferry; owners hope to reopen

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December 17, 2009

Owners hope to reopen; needed as bridge alternative

By KIM SMITH DEDAM The Press Republican Thu Dec 17, 2009, 10:28 PM EST

On the net
Updates on the Ticonderoga Ferry situation will be posted as they become available.

Ti Ferry

www.middlebury.net/tiferry

Champlain Bridge

www.nysdot.gov/lakechamplainbridge

TICONDEROGA — Ice has thrown operation of the Fort Ticonderoga Ferry into jeopardy.

"Until the lake freezes completely, ice chunks form," said John Zicconi, spokesman for the Vermont Agency of Transportation, which is coordinating ferry solutions.

That ice on Thursday collected by the dock on the New York state side of the ferry route, preventing co-operator Michael Matot from docking his boat.

But he hoped to have the ferry running again this morning, Zicconi said Thursday afternoon.

"If he can," he said. "We don't believe this is any kind of permanent thing."

Temperatures had dropped sharply Wednesday and the edges of Lake Champlain started to freeze in.

And ice floated in from other locations, Zicconi said.

Essex County Transportation Coordinator Nancy Dougal said the closing caused problems for people who walked on the ferry Thursday morning.

"They rode over (to Vermont) this morning and then the ferry closed down. We know who they are, and I think we have them all covered right now," Dougal said Thursday.

Officials were working to add more bus runs from Ticonderoga to the Essex ferry dock and one going south through Whitehall to ensure adequate transportation would be available should the Ti route not reopen immediately. Dougal hoped the new schedule would be released today.

The commuter bus is free.

Matot, who operates the ferry with his wife, Alison, had extended the narrow Ticonderoga ferry crossing beyond its usual Nov. 15 end date this year after the Champlain Bridge in Crown Point was closed permanently with irreparable flaws.

The Matots also extended operating hours and have run their boat from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m.

It has been a lifeline for many.

"That ferry is critical to commuters, otherwise they are forced to go up to Essex or down around Whitehall," said Thomas Scozzafava, Town of Moriah supervisor.

The additional miles can add more than an hour to commute time between New York and Vermont.

"I had a call from one of my constituents around 9:30 (Thursday) morning reporting the ferry closed, so I spoke to Mike (Matot) and he informed me they couldn't land on the New York side because of an ice buildup at the dock," Scozzafava said. "They are trying to resolve the problem. I contacted the head of ferry operations in Vermont. The last I had heard, New York state was notified and they're looking to resolve the ice buildup."

New York DOT announced the closure, describing it as "indefinite," shortly after 1 p.m.

The six-minute crossing about 20 miles south of the bridge has been inundated with traffic and provides the southernmost lake passage.

Meantime, work is progressing on a new ferry landing being built below the bridge.

Lisa Cloutier, owner of the Bridge Restaurant in Addison, marks some degree of progress every day.

"I'm told the bridge demolition is going to be next Wednesday," she said Thursday. "I don't have an exact time. The demolition crew does come in here and eat, and they're pretty good about keeping us informed. I think I'm in the blast zone. I don't know if they'll let me stay here."

Thursday, she watched concrete being poured for dock abutments.

"We're not going to have a ferry until the end of January," she repeated scuttlebutt she has heard.

"They've been blacktopping, the electric company is down here moving lines. The road that was once in front of my restaurant is gone. The triangle of grass is gone. Route 125 will 'T' on the corner of (Route) 17 (in Vermont), and that's going to be a permanent situation."

Zicconi confirmed demolition is tentatively scheduled for next Wednesday and is being coordinated with police.

"We will make an official announcement in the coming days."

New York and Vermont declared states of emergency after the bridge closed and have subsidized ferry crossings at Ticonderoga and Essex.

The Lake Champlain Transportation ferry in Essex is a year-round operation and remains open, running every half-hour from its first departure in Charlotte, Vt., at 5 a.m. until the last New York departure at 9:30 p.m.

Last week, New York and Vermont transportation agencies announced that contractor Harrison & Burrowes Bridge Constructors Inc. secured an expert to demolish the bridge.

"Advanced Explosives Demolition Inc. of Idaho will plan for and execute the controlled explosive demolition of the steel truss bridge," DOT said in a press release. "Details on bridge demolition will be well advertised and safe public viewing locations will be determined. The public will be prohibited from the area immediately surrounding the bridge, including the land, water and air. Access to certain roads also will be restricted for a distance to be specified by the states and contractor to ensure public safety."

DOT said Thursday that more than 3,500 people offered comments online to select the modified network tied arch bridge design to replace the Champlain Bridge, one of six options presented at three public meetings last week.

DOT will make a final decision on the new design by mid-January.

As for the Ti Ferry, updates are posted on the company's Web site, Zicconi said.

"I'm encouraging folks to check that on a regular basis. If he's closed, they can go north to Essex-Charlotte ferry or drive to the south and drive around (Lake Champlain)."

E-mail Kim Smith Dedam at: kdedam@pressrepublican.com