Almost Ready

By Mike Cameron

photo by Mike Cameron Cable system in progress on the new Lake Champlain bridge arch in Port Henry, NY on Tuesday August 16, 2011. The arch is scheduled to be raised on the new bridge Friday, August 26th, 2011.

photo by Mike Cameron

A steady stream of cement trucks have been transporting concrete to the Lake Champlain Bridge construction site.  Deck work for the new bridge scheduled to open on October 9th, 2011 is progressing at a brisk pace. The contractor has a 65 day extension that was granted earlier this year allowing for unpredictable construction delays.  After this time they would be charged a penalty per-day over the agreed upon time table.  No official notification has been released as to the construction time-table being on time or behind estimates.  The large pulley systems are in place on both end sections of the bridge deck near the channel and soon the giant arch supported by its caple super-structure will be tugged to the bridge on barges and lifted into place.  The arch is in the final phases of its fabrication at the Velez Street section of the Port Henry boat launch area.  Above iron workers from FLATIRON construction continue to secure the arch cable system on Tuesday August 16th 2011.  We are hearing unconfirmed reports that the arch will be floated to the bridge site on Monday, August 29th.   A Voice source indicated that the arch transport was to take place on August 22nd 2011 but was then changed to the 26th.  Updated information on the bridge is available at  www.nysdot.gov/lakechamplainbridge/construction. The waterside areas of the construction site are under the jurisdiction of the US Coast Guard and they have issued a Local Notice to Mariners regarding navigation in the vicinity of the Lake Champlain Bridge   construction site.  The project will cost an estimated $70 million dollars.