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Lake Champlain Bridge Coalition Demands Action....State Leaders Respond

photo by Champlain Bridge Coalition The LCTC deep water ferry makes practice runs near the Crown Point Monument on Thursday November19th 2009. Ferry service is expected soon a short distance south of the closed bridge.

Tuesday November 24, 2009

The closure of the Lake Champlain Bridge between Crown Point New York and Addison Vermont has had a devastating impact on businesses and commuters along the route 17/125/30 and 22/22A corridor.  Solutions to the problem have been slow to materialize.              

   The Voice will run this “Up-Date” weekly to help fill the information gap that an emergency of this type creates.  The Voice will  continue working with members of the Lake Champlain Bridge Coalition to provide our readers with the latest information as progress continues to open up this vital transportation link between New York and Vermont

    It is important to note that over 1500 workers that travel to work between New York and Vermont every day need to cross the lake every day at the bridge.  Ferry service is being installed as of this report.  The Coalition urges the powers that be to increase their energies to build this service as soon as possible and ease the burden on our community before businesses fail and more jobs are lost as a result of the bridge being closed.

    As of 11-19-09…CBC reports that a deep water ferry has made several runs back and forth from Crown Point to Chimney Point in what will be its future course.   The larger ferry can accommodate more and larger vehicles.

   The Shoreham/Ticonderoga cable ferry is still open and serving motorists free of charge with this vital link  At the bridge CBC reports that DOT officials were at the site late last week, and working on designs for the new bridge.  The plan as of this report is to build at the site of the original bridge after it is  demolished and removed…and it was widely reported last week that New York officials have indicated that nearly $3 million has been allocated to help businesses hurt by the closing of the bridge.  New York Governor David Patterson told reporters the program will include grants and loans to small businesses for payroll and other expenses.  Money for farms and manufacturers to cover increased travel costs was also included.

The bridge was closed on October 16th, 2009.  Find more information at www.nysdot.gov/lakechamplainbridge.  

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