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  1. #1

    Lake Champlian bridge closed indefinetly

    http://www.poststar.com/news/local/a...cc4c03286.html

    Though i doubt it will effect many out-of-the-area skiers on here, i post this FYI.

    The Crown Point bridge crossing Lake Champlain between Crown Point, NY and Chimney Point, VT. was closed indefinitely 10-16-09. This forces a 100 mile detour. the bridge had been under going repairs to it's super structure for months when it was discovered the pier(s) are badly cracked and may actually fall apart completely dropping the bridge into the lake.

    the situation looks grim. Many people commute across this bridge for work. the 100 mile detour will be quite the gauntlet for them. 3400 cars daily cross this bridge. The description of the pier damage does not bode well for reopening. perhaps they can encase the whole pier with concrete and save the day. perhaps.

    Ferries do cross the Lake but they are some distance away and only the one at Burlington runs all year. none of them will be able to keep up with the crossing demand.

    i believe locals used to do an unofficial " ice road " across the southern lake end with entrance and exit using boat ramps. but not sure if it's still done.
    incoming .................DUCK !

  2. #2

    Re: Lake Champlian bridge closed indefinetly

    Quote Originally Posted by Snowballs
    http://www.poststar.com/news/local/article_e77cd748-ba8b-11de-9ff0-001cc4c03286.html

    Though i doubt it will effect many out-of-the-area skiers on here, i post this FYI.

    The Crown Point bridge crossing Lake Champlain between Crown Point, NY and Chimney Point, VT. was closed indefinitely 10-16-09. This forces a 100 mile detour. the bridge had been under going repairs to it's super structure for months when it was discovered the pier(s) are badly cracked and may actually fall apart completely dropping the bridge into the lake.

    the situation looks grim. Many people commute across this bridge for work. the 100 mile detour will be quite the gauntlet for them. 3400 cars daily cross this bridge. The description of the pier damage does not bode well for reopening. perhaps they can encase the whole pier with concrete and save the day. perhaps.

    Ferries do cross the Lake but they are some distance away and only the one at Burlington runs all year. none of them will be able to keep up with the crossing demand.

    i believe locals used to do an unofficial " ice road " across the southern lake end with entrance and exit using boat ramps. but not sure if it's still done.
    Unfortunately this could have been avoided if we only took care of our infrastructure. Hopefully the state can come up with something fast before winter kicks in.

  3. #3
    well that's a concern. they're afraid the ice will push on the pier and make it worse.
    incoming .................DUCK !

  4. #4
    Denison's Avatar
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    Re: Lake Champlian bridge closed indefinetly

    Quote Originally Posted by Snowballs
    3400 cars daily cross this bridge
    Quote Originally Posted by nyspnypd
    Hopefully the state can come up with something fast before winter kicks in.
    Since number translated into 2.5 cars per minute I dont think that bridge is high on the priority list.

    Quote Originally Posted by nyspnypd
    i believe locals used to do an unofficial " ice road " across the southern lake end with entrance and exit using boat ramps. but not sure if it's still done.
    I'm afraid we are gonna have folks crossing on ice before it's safe to do so

  5. #5

    Re: Lake Champlian bridge closed indefinetly

    Quote Originally Posted by Denison
    Quote Originally Posted by Snowballs
    3400 cars daily cross this bridge
    Quote Originally Posted by nyspnypd
    Hopefully the state can come up with something fast before winter kicks in.
    Since number translated into 2.5 cars per minute I dont think that bridge is high on the priority list.

    Quote Originally Posted by nyspnypd
    i believe locals used to do an unofficial " ice road " across the southern lake end with entrance and exit using boat ramps. but not sure if it's still done.
    I'm afraid we are gonna have folks crossing on ice before it's safe to do so
    yes but that is the reason why we are in this situation of having a bridge about to fall down the state pushing it further down the list over the years.

  6. #6
    What's the estimate on a new bridge?

    If this website is accurate, and I don't know if it is...$1.3B of the stimulus money is being spent in NY state. If I'm reading it right, I'm seeing zero stimulus money being spent in the north country:

    http://www.stimuluswatch.org/project...e/NY&per_page=

    It's amazing how many areas are missing out.

  7. #7
    haven't see any replacement cost estimates yet. but i believe NY got 18 billion in stim money over two years? not exactly sure.

    some people up that way are turning in their notices to their employers cuz they can't get to work or their jobs simply don't pay enough to cover the extra costs, etc. remember it's the North Country. money and jobs are tight up there in the ADK " forever wild " zone.

    a big problem is people use the bridge to go to Vermount for medical reasons and the Fire/emergency services on both sides rely on each other for extra or back up coverage.

    local officals are asking for a temporary bridge.

    i hope it works out. not confident on that priority level. our state is flat freegin broke. once the stim money is gone, our state budget really goes over the cliff. Topper is our legislature is more dysfunctional than the Al Bundy's family and as impotent as a 200 year old man. absolutely not kidding. NY state legislature was voted the most dysfunctional in the nation - 2 years in a row!
    incoming .................DUCK !

  8. #8
    side note.

    i see California is selling some of it's state parks.

    Hope Gore and Face have good years and don't end up on the auction block.

    Sorry, but i think true hard times are a comin. this recession is just a light drizzle compared to what's coming. when most of our Governments, Fed/State/County/Cities go broke in a year or so AND are massively in debt the real monsoon is gonna hit hard.
    incoming .................DUCK !

  9. #9
    one poor soul gave his situation on the news. normally, his work commute one way from Crown Point to Burlington took one hour when the bridge was open. Now it's three hours one way....6 hours of commuting per day.

    The Ferries have added more crossings and that cuts that time in half BUT it's a 2 hour wait in line now to get on board.

    a share a ride program has been started to link commuters together.

    the Burlington ferry ride across Lake Champlain is actually, normally, pretty cool. it disembarks on the NY side right next to Ausable Chasm. this Chasm is neat. take the gentle raft ride thru it if you go. you can enjoy a swim at it's end. then take the short walk back, not the shuttle, for more Chasm views.
    incoming .................DUCK !

  10. #10
    The Champlain bridge is to be closed and torn down immediately.

    A final foot note to this sad scenerio. News reports in the last month paint a dismal picture.

    The State Highway Fund has been getting pilfered for decades. 66% percent of it's funds are gone, spent on socialism, etc.

    One in ten State bridges are in " as bad a condition or worse as the Champlain bridge ". 21 in the Albany area alone.

    3 MAJOR State bridges are already in the " actually scheduled, have to be replaced " process and there is no money for them!!! One is in the suburban NYC and not a rural bridge.

    The current year State budget is defunct and our legislature is doing nada. they'll wait for the new term next year. State financial defaults start January 1st. this will making our bond rating tank. New York's only a half step behind California. Next year's budget is 3 times more impossible.

    67 million to replace the Champlian Bridge. ain't happen. Maybe not for a long time.

    The Batchleorville bridge across the Great Sacandaga will probably be next. It's already been under oneway travel restrictions for years and it's the only bridge across the Great Sacandaga Lake.
    incoming .................DUCK !

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