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Champlain Bridge Demolished
Tuesday January 5, 2010
The 80 year old Champlain Bridge was imploded with 800-pounds of RDX shaped charges on Monday December 28, 2009, at 10 a.m. The sequence above was taken by Voice photorgapher Phil Gridley in the credentialed press zone at the Crown Point New York Reservation. News organizations from New York, Vermont and many other states along the east coast covered the historic blast. The demolition sequence brought down the bridge in a matter of a few seconds via radio signal. Demolition and recovery personnel view the results shortly after last weeks controlled implosion of the Lake Champlain Bridge which connected West Addison Vermont with Crown Point New York. Wreckage in mid channel demonstrates the power of the blast. a recovery barge moves into position to clear debris, which will allow the long awaited ferry boat safe passage to its service lane just south of the bridge. Commuters have displayed amazing patience as ferry dock work continues on both shores. Vermont and New York officials have ordered the ferry project “on the fast track” but detours are still the order of the day with free ferry service out of Charlotte Vt./Essex New York. A round trip through Whitehall New York over the South Bay bridge and up or down Route 22 is the longest detour for any bridge in the New York State DOT system according to official sources. The business and financial impact connected directly to the closing of the bridge and the time lag between the closing and having a ferry boat up and running will be assessed in the multi-millions of dollars. new bridge designs have been chosen but not finalized and public input is still being solicited. For many, the passing of the “Broken Old Bridge”as coined by members of the Lake Champlain Bridge Coalition, was bitter-sweet on a bitter cold day. The bridge was a landmark and a part of daily or weekly life for thousands over many years. Most feel that they won’t be satisfied until it has been replaced and traffic returns to normal. Officials are predicting summer 2011 for completion of the new span.
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