NY/VT: Lake Champlain Bridge at Crown Point/Chimney Point closed indefinitely

[froggie]

Just heard about this one from Meaghan, and it's made the Burlington/Plattsburgh news:

http://www.wcax.com/global/story.asp?s=11327892

http://www.wptz.com/news/21317882/detail.html

This afternoon, NYSDOT and VTrans closed the bridge at the south end of Lake Champlain at Crowne Point (the one on VT 17 and NY 185), deeming the bridge unsafe for use.  This comes in the middle of a repair project which had already restricted the bridge to single lane alternating traffic controlled by traffic signals...I saw this firsthand over Labor Day when I drove over the bridge.  Though officials say the closure is temporary, there's no word yet on a timeline to reopen the bridge.

Interestingly, NYSDOT has this project website on the bridge.  Both they and VTrans were already in the midst of planning what looks to be a $50 million bridge project, tentatively scheduled for construction in 2013-15.  That dollar figure seems too low for a replacement bridge, so it was probably a major rehabilitation that was being planned.

[Roadgeek Adam]

Saw your MTR post. This really sucks. Its been 1 year and already NY 185 experiences its first issue.

[froggie]

VTrans and NYSDOT, in the weekly bridge closure update, have announced that they have secured an expert subcontractor to demolish the existing bridge.  Advanced Explosives Demolition, Inc. of Idaho will plan for and execute the controlled explosive demolition of the steel truss bridge, though the details of when are still TBD.

The weekly update also noted three public hearings being held tomorrow morning showing design criteria and feasible bridge types for the replacement bridge, as well as taking public input on other features.  They say they'll also post the presentations to the project website tomorrow morning and are asking for input through Monday, which IMO is too quick of a time period...

[Dougtone]

Maybe they want to get the new bridge built quickly and don't have the time for a long public input period.  But I agree, giving people a weekend to give input is too quick of a time.  I will make sure to look and see if I want to give any input about a new bridge.  A week may have been better for that though.

[vdeane]

Here's the survey: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/NYVBXYK

[Dougtone]

And it looks like NYSDOT has posted an article about recommendations for the bridge replacement.  It looks like a Modified Network Tied Arch Bridge has been selected.  I think that the recommended replacement will work well considering the beauty of the surroundings.

https://www.nysdot.gov/news/press-releases/2009/2009-12-17

[Dougtone]

As for the old Crown Point Bridge, it is going to be demolished on Monday, December 28th...
http://www.wptz.com/news/22026547/detail.html

[rickmastfan67]

As for the old Crown Point Bridge, it is going to be demolished on Monday, December 28th...
http://www.wptz.com/news/22026547/detail.html

Corrected your link for ya.   Would help to use the URL tags instead of the IMG tags. lol.

[Dougtone]

As for the old Crown Point Bridge, it is going to be demolished on Monday, December 28th...
http://www.wptz.com/news/22026547/detail.html

Corrected your link for ya.   Would help to use the URL tags instead of the IMG tags. lol.

A telling sign that I play that highway photograph game way too much.

[Dougtone]

http://www.timesunion.com/AspStories/story.asp?storyID=882461

Some more news about the bridge demolition.  People who are curious can watch the bridge demolition live, online.

[froggie]

And it's down...

http://www.wcax.com/global/story.asp?s=11736870

[Dougtone]

I thought about watching the Albany Times Union link to the demolition this morning, but didn't get around to it.  My understanding is that demolition cleanup will now go on through late April.

[Alps]

I got to watch it at work.  The bridge went from a bridge, to a suddenly very fuzzy bridge, to a cloud of smoke.  Very good job done.

[Michael]

For those who missed it, it can be found at https://www.nysdot.gov/webcast.  Just type "Lake Champlain" in the Search tab.

[froggie]

Both governors announced today that the Modified Network Tied Arch Bridge design has been chosen.  This design had a large amount of public support last month when the alternative design types were offered.

[froggie]

Also, on the Updates page, an update posted last weekend notes that the reason the Ticonderoga Ferry closed down just after New Year's is because the ferry operator was unable to obtain insurance.  In the interim, bus service has been tweaked; the Essex/Charlotte ferry is still in operation, running 24/7, and is free to non-trailer-carrying passenger vehicles and pedestrians; and work continues on a temporary ferry near the old bridge site, with the goal of starting the temporary ferry by the end of the month.

[Dougtone]

And here's a recent news update about the bridge from the Albany Times Union...
http://www.timesunion.com/AspStories/story.asp?storyID=919649

[froggie]

Earlier today, NYSDOT and VTrans announced the awarding of an almost-$70M contract to replace the bridge.  The contract went to Flatiron, who some of you may recall is the company that built the new I-35W Mississippi River bridge.  The goal is to have the new bridge complete by the end of September, 2011.

The project websites also note temporary 24/7 (every 30 minutes) ferry service now at the bridge site...the ferry service will continue to run until the new bridge is complete and open.

[froggie]

According to the Burlington Free Press, the bridge will open Monday with a ribbon-cutting ceremony.

[KEVIN_224]

A picture of the current bridge, taken by my friend Brenda Taschereau, from the Crown Point, NY side:

(Picture taken October 26, 2014)

[andy3175]

Wow, that is gorgeous! I drove across that bridge in the wee dark hours in July 2000, and I recall the old bridge being narrow. In addition to your picture, I also found a nice picture of the wider bridge at http://poststar.com/news/local/lake-champlain-bridge-looking-at-the-past-designing-the-future/article_205dd67c-62f5-11df-a355-001cc4c03286.html. Very nice; I know it's been awhile already since the new bridge opened. Now I have to find time to revisit Vermont and upstate NY to drive over this bridge.

[SteveG1988]

So what makes it a network tied arch versus a traditional, is it due to how the tops of the two halves come together?

[Alex]

A picture of the current bridge, taken by my friend Brenda Taschereau, from the Crown Point, NY side:

(Picture taken October 26, 2014)

Would have been better to start a new topic on this bridge.

Drove across it three times a few weeks ago. Wanted to snag a photo from the NY side but a tractor trailer got stuck trying to turn on the one lane access road when we there, blocking anyone from getting to or from the nearby parking area.

[02 Park Ave]

Is there any illumination on the bridge at night?

[vdeane]

I think I recall illumination when I drove it back from the Burlington meet.