Unfortunately, most folks knew this day would come. Too little too late. That seems to sum up what has become the sad demise of our beloved Champlain Bridge. Decades of weather and tempurature changes, and a lack of a good preventive maintenance plan, will cost N.Y. and Vt. citizens an estimated 50 million dollars! Built in 1929 this 2,184 ft. erector set connected West Addison Vt. with Crown Pt. N.Y., and made travel between the two states much more efficient. Today, nearly 4,000 vehicles per day travel over this narrow section of Lake Champlain. Workers on the bridge have discovered it to be in a greater deteriated state than originally thought. Inspections performed under the water's surface have determined that the concrete foundations are cracking enough to warrant concerns of a possible collapse! Archaeologists are performing digs to determine if any artifacts would be disturbed by construction of a ferry service, to alieviate the frustrations of many commuters now forced to take a 100 mi. detour! Demolition will possibly start by the end of the year (?). Just one more problem to add to an already weakened economy. I have also just heard word of the Edinburg/Northville Bridge, that crosses The Great Sacandaga Resevoir, may suffer the same fate! Infrastructure is always a nice political conversation piece, isn't it?
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