VTrans, NYDOT abandon Chipman's Point as site for temporary bridge

New York State Department of Transportation (NYSDOT) Acting Commissioner Stanley Gee and Vermont Agency of Transportation (VTrans) Secretary David Dill today announced that the states will not explore the crossing between Putnam, Washington County, New York, and Chipman’s Point, Addison County, Vermont, as a potential temporary bridge site. The states also advised motorists, pedestrians and boaters to avoid the closed Lake Champlain Bridge as a safety hazard.
“I have heard the residents loud and clear that any temporary bridge or temporary ferry service absolutely must be located in the vicinity of the Lake Champlain Bridge corridor, as close as is feasible and safe,” Acting Commissioner Gee said. “I am fully aware of how much this bridge closure has disrupted people’s lives and we will continue working to find a safe location for a temporary bridge to cross Lake Champlain in the Crown Point area.”
Secretary Dill added: “Survey crews are exploring locations on both sides of the lake and both south and north of the closed bridge searching for not only a temporary bridge location, but also a location from which we can establish a temporary ferry service that can be put into place until a temporary bridge can be erected. We are working seven days a week with the goal of getting people’s lives back to as close to normal as quickly as we can.”
The current 2,184-foot-long bridge spanning Lake Champlain between Crown Point, New York, and Chimney Point, Vermont, was closed earlier this month after piers supporting the bridge were found to be severely deteriorated. Citizens are asked to keep a clear distance from the bridge.
Acting Commissioner Gee said, “Under no circumstances should those in vehicles, on foot or boating in Lake Champlain travel under, on or near the structure. In the next few days, the water approaching and immediately underneath the bridge will be buoyed off to prevent boat access and warning signs will be posted. Although department personnel will continue to analyze the bridge, the structure is not safe for citizens. Once winter arrives and the lake freezes, individuals should not travel across the ice in vehicles or by foot.”
NYSDOT and VTrans are pursuing many alternative locations for a temporary bridge as well as for establishing temporary vehicular ferry service. Based on input received at this week’s public meetings, New York locations being explored all will be in the Port Henry/Crown Point vicinity and the immediate surrounding area, while in Vermont locations all will be in the Addison or immediate surrounding area. Currently, free ferry service is available via the Essex/Charlotte and Ticonderoga ferries, both of which have also extended their hours of operation.
A free pedestrian-only ferry service with early morning and late afternoon hours is also available from Westport, NY to Basin Harbor in Vermont, with free shuttle service to several Vermont employers and downtown Middlebury, VT.
NYSDOT and VTrans personnel will be performing survey work in these areas to help determine viable locations for a temporary bridge and ferry service, and may request permission to survey private property. This work is necessary to analyze the feasibility of each possible site, and in no way means a final location has been chosen.
NYDOT and VTrans are also exploring extending vehicular ferry service longer into the evening and further into the winter season. NYDOT has added more traffic control personnel at the Essex/Charlotte Ferry and the Ticonderoga Ferry. Additionally, shuttle service is provided from Crown Point to the Essex/Charlotte Ferry as well as from Essex/Charlotte to Burlington.
For additional information on available travel services, please visit www.LCBClosure.org.
Analysis of the bridge piers will continue as NYSDOT explores the options available, including rehabilitation or replacement of the Lake Champlain Bridge.