Lake Champlain Bridge (1929–2009) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Champlain Bridge |
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Previous Champlain Bridge viewed from Chimney Point State Historic Site, Vermont
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| Coordinates | 44°01′57″N 73°25′24″W / 44.03250°N 73.42333°W |
| Carries | Two lanes of  NY 185 and  VT 17 |
| Crosses | Lake Champlain |
| Locale | Crown Point, New York and Chimney Point, Vermont |
| Other name(s) | Crown Point Bridge |
| Maintained by | NYSDOT and VTrans |
| ID number | 5521180 |
| Characteristics | |
| Design | Continuous truss (combination of through truss, deck truss, and deck plate girders) |
| Total length | 14 spans totaling 2,184 feet (666 m) |
| Width | 26.1 feet (8.0 m) |
| Longest span | 434 feet (132 m) |
| History | |
| Construction cost | $1,149,032.63 |
| Opened | August 26, 1929 |
| Closed | October 16, 2009 (closure) December 28, 2009 (demolition) |
| Statistics | |
| Daily traffic | 3,510 (2007) |
| Toll | 1929–1987 |
The Champlain Bridge (also known as the Crown Point Bridge) was a long bridge in the United States. It stretched for about 2,184 feet (666 meters). This bridge crossed Lake Champlain between Crown Point, New York and Chimney Point, Vermont.
It first opened in 1929. At that time, people had to pay a small fee, called a toll, to cross it. These tolls were removed in 1987. The bridge was closed in 2009 because it was no longer safe. It was then taken down using explosive demolition later that year. A new bridge was built in its place, opening in 2011.
This bridge was one of only two bridges connecting New York and Vermont across Lake Champlain. Other ways to cross the lake were by ferry. The Champlain Bridge connected NY 185 in New York to VT 17 in Vermont. Both the New York State Department of Transportation and the Vermont Agency of Transportation shared ownership and care for the bridge.
Contents
About the Champlain Bridge
The Champlain Bridge crossed Lake Champlain about 12 miles (19 km) north of Ticonderoga, New York. It was also about 32 miles (51 km) south of Burlington, Vermont. The bridge linked NY 185 in Crown Point, New York with VT 17 in Chimney Point, Vermont.
It was one of only two places where a bridge connected New York and Vermont over the lake. The other bridge is on U.S. Route 2. That bridge crosses between Rouses Point, New York and Alburgh, Vermont, close to the Canada–United States border.
History of the Bridge
Opening and Early Life
The Champlain Bridge first opened to traffic on August 26, 1929. It was special because it was one of the first continuous truss road bridges ever built in the United States. It had parts of both a "through truss" and a "deck truss" design.
When it first opened, drivers had to pay a toll to cross. But on September 22, 1987, the tolls were removed, and it became free to use. The bridge was also repaired in 1991. During these repairs, its driving surface and railings were replaced. The steel parts were repainted, and the support piers were fixed.
Why the Bridge Closed
In 2007, transportation groups from New York and Vermont started planning for the bridge's future. They wanted to either fix it up or replace it by 2012. However, in 2009, a closer look at the bridge showed a big problem. Two of its main support piers were not strong enough.
Because of this safety concern, the bridge was closed to all traffic on October 16, 2009. An engineer from New York's transportation department said they were worried the bridge "could fail abruptly" under certain conditions. Before this, the bridge had already been reduced to one lane for steel repairs.
Life Without the Bridge
Closing the bridge caused problems for people who lived and worked nearby. It was harder for commuters to get around. Local businesses also saw fewer customers because traffic dropped a lot.
Two private ferry services helped out. One ferry, about 15 miles (24 km) south, became very busy. Another ferry, about 25 miles (40 km) north, started running longer hours. Even with help from New York state, these ferries couldn't handle everyone. The state looked into adding a ferry right at the bridge site. One local club even offered its tour boat to carry people across.
Winter brought more challenges. Lake Champlain freezes, so special boats called ice-breakers would be needed to keep ferries running. The Ticonderoga Ferry had to stop service for a few days in December 2009 because of ice.
To help people cross, a new free ferry service started on February 1, 2010. It operated 24 hours a day with two boats, leaving every 15 minutes from each side. This service was paid for by the New York State Department of Transportation.
Demolition and New Bridge
On November 9, 2009, officials decided the bridge was too damaged to fix. It had to be taken down. The plan was to use explosive demolition to remove it. This was first set for December 23, 2009. However, cold weather and ice on Lake Champlain caused delays. Workers needed more time to set up the explosives safely.
So, the bridge was finally demolished at 10:03 AM on December 28, 2009.
A new bridge was built to replace it. This new design was called a Modified Network Tied Arch. A company named Flatiron Constructors won the job to build it. Construction began on June 11, 2010. The brand new bridge opened to traffic on November 7, 2011, connecting New York and Vermont once again.
