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Champlain Bridge (United States)
Encyclopedia
The Champlain Bridge was a 2184 feet (665.7 m) long vehicular bridge in the United States
that traversed Lake Champlain
between Crown Point
, New York
and Chimney Point
, Vermont
. It was opened to traffic in 1929 as a toll bridge
; the tolls were removed in 1987. The bridge was closed due to safety concerns in October 2009 and was taken down by explosive demolition on December 28, 2009. A replacement bridge
opened on November 7, 2011.
It was one of only two bridges connecting New York and Vermont across Lake Champlain. Ferries provide connections between the states at other points along the lake. The bridge connected NY 185
in New York
to VT 17
in Vermont
. The half-mile, two-lane, continuous truss bridge
was jointly owned and maintained by the New York State Department of Transportation
and the Vermont Agency of Transportation
.
at a point 12 miles (19.3 km) north of Ticonderoga, New York, and 32 miles (51.5 km) south of Burlington, Vermont
. It connected NY 185
in Crown Point, New York
, to VT 17
in Chimney Point, Vermont
. It stood at one of only two bridge sites that link New York and Vermont across the lake. The other bridge is on U.S. Route 2, spanning between Rouses Point, New York
and Alburgh, Vermont, near the Canada – United States border.
; however, the tolls were removed on September 22, 1987. The bridge was rehabilitated in 1991. Work performed at that time included the replacement of the deck and railings, the repainting of the steel trusses, and the repairing of the bridge piers.
In the mid-2000s, the New York State Department of Transportation
(NYSDOT) and the Vermont Agency of Transportation
(VTrans) launched the planning process for a project that would result in either the rehabilitation or replacement of the Champlain Bridge. At the time, the projected start date for the project was 2012. However, in 2009, an inspection performed on the bridge as part of the planning process revealed that two of the bridge's support piers were not structurally sound. As a result, the bridge was closed to all traffic on October 16, 2009. NYSDOT Regional Structural Engineer Thomas Hoffman commented that "Under certain conditions we were afraid the bridge could fail abruptly." Prior to the closing, the bridge had already been reduced to one lane for structural steel repairs.
made its tour boat available to ferry pedestrians. Since the lake freezes in winter, an ice-breaker would be required to keep the ferry services running. The Ticonderoga Ferry was forced to suspend service due to icy conditions from December 17 to December 20, 2009.
On February 1, 2010, Lake Champlain Transportation started a new ferry service at the site of the demolished bridge. The new service is now operating with two boats, departing each side of the crossing every 15 minutes, 24 hours a day. This is a free service subsidized by NYSDOT.
With the new bridge opening in November of 2011, the ferry service has ended as traffic now flows across the bridge once again.
The bridge was replaced by a new structure
, a Modified Network Tied Arch concept design. Flatiron Constructors of Longmont, Colorado
, the U.S. subsidiary of German firm Hochtief AG, won the contract for the new bridge, and groundbreaking took place on June 11, 2010. The replacement bridge opened to traffic on November 7, 2011.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
that traversed Lake Champlain
Lake Champlain
Lake Champlain is a natural, freshwater lake in North America, located mainly within the borders of the United States but partially situated across the Canada—United States border in the Canadian province of Quebec.The New York portion of the Champlain Valley includes the eastern portions of...
between Crown Point
Crown Point, New York
Crown Point is a town in Essex County, New York, USA. The population was 2,119 at the 2000 census. The name of the town is a direct translation of the original French name, "Point au Chevalure."...
, New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
and Chimney Point
Chimney Point, Vermont
Chimney Point is an unincorporated community in the town of Addison in Addison County, Vermont, United States. It lies across Lake Champlain from Crown Point, New York. French settlers established the community of Hocquart near modern-day Chimney Point in 1730. This first settlement in Vermont...
, Vermont
Vermont
Vermont is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. The state ranks 43rd in land area, , and 45th in total area. Its population according to the 2010 census, 630,337, is the second smallest in the country, larger only than Wyoming. It is the only New England...
. It was opened to traffic in 1929 as a toll bridge
Toll bridge
A toll bridge is a bridge over which traffic may pass upon payment of a toll, or fee.- History :The practice of collecting tolls on bridges probably harks back to the days of ferry crossings where people paid a fee to be ferried across stretches of water. As boats became impractical to carry large...
; the tolls were removed in 1987. The bridge was closed due to safety concerns in October 2009 and was taken down by explosive demolition on December 28, 2009. A replacement bridge
Lake Champlain Bridge (2011)
The Lake Champlain Bridge is a vehicular bridge traversing Lake Champlain between Crown Point, New York and Chimney Point, Vermont. It replaced the Champlain Bridge.The main span was lifted into place on August 26, 2011...
opened on November 7, 2011.
It was one of only two bridges connecting New York and Vermont across Lake Champlain. Ferries provide connections between the states at other points along the lake. The bridge connected NY 185
New York State Route 185
New York State Route 185 was a state highway located within St. Lawrence County in the North Country of New York in the United States. Although the route followed a mostly north–south alignment, it was considered an east–west highway by the New York State Department of Transportation...
in New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
to VT 17
Vermont Route 17
Vermont Route 17 is a long state highway in western Vermont, United States. The temporary western terminus is at the Lake Champlain shoreline in Addison just west of its junction with VT 125. The eastern terminus is at VT 100 in Waitsfield. VT 17 was initially much shorter than it is today,...
in Vermont
Vermont
Vermont is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. The state ranks 43rd in land area, , and 45th in total area. Its population according to the 2010 census, 630,337, is the second smallest in the country, larger only than Wyoming. It is the only New England...
. The half-mile, two-lane, continuous truss bridge
Continuous truss bridge
A continuous truss bridge is a truss bridge which extends without hinges or joints across three or more supports. A continuous truss bridge may use less material than a series of simple trusses because a continuous truss distributes live loads across all the spans; in a series of simple trusses,...
was jointly owned and maintained by the New York State Department of Transportation
New York State Department of Transportation
The New York State Department of Transportation is responsible for the development and operation of highways, railroads, mass transit systems, ports, waterways and aviation facilities in the U.S...
and the Vermont Agency of Transportation
Vermont Agency of Transportation
The Vermont Agency of Transportation is a Vermont executive agency . Its purpose is to develop and execute policy on transportation for the U.S. state of Vermont. The agency was created in 1979 by combining the departments of Highway, Motor Vehicles, Aeronautics and Public Transit...
.
Description
The bridge crossed Lake ChamplainLake Champlain
Lake Champlain is a natural, freshwater lake in North America, located mainly within the borders of the United States but partially situated across the Canada—United States border in the Canadian province of Quebec.The New York portion of the Champlain Valley includes the eastern portions of...
at a point 12 miles (19.3 km) north of Ticonderoga, New York, and 32 miles (51.5 km) south of Burlington, Vermont
Burlington, Vermont
Burlington is the largest city in the U.S. state of Vermont and the shire town of Chittenden County. Burlington lies south of the U.S.-Canadian border and some south of Montreal....
. It connected NY 185
New York State Route 185
New York State Route 185 was a state highway located within St. Lawrence County in the North Country of New York in the United States. Although the route followed a mostly north–south alignment, it was considered an east–west highway by the New York State Department of Transportation...
in Crown Point, New York
Crown Point, New York
Crown Point is a town in Essex County, New York, USA. The population was 2,119 at the 2000 census. The name of the town is a direct translation of the original French name, "Point au Chevalure."...
, to VT 17
Vermont Route 17
Vermont Route 17 is a long state highway in western Vermont, United States. The temporary western terminus is at the Lake Champlain shoreline in Addison just west of its junction with VT 125. The eastern terminus is at VT 100 in Waitsfield. VT 17 was initially much shorter than it is today,...
in Chimney Point, Vermont
Chimney Point, Vermont
Chimney Point is an unincorporated community in the town of Addison in Addison County, Vermont, United States. It lies across Lake Champlain from Crown Point, New York. French settlers established the community of Hocquart near modern-day Chimney Point in 1730. This first settlement in Vermont...
. It stood at one of only two bridge sites that link New York and Vermont across the lake. The other bridge is on U.S. Route 2, spanning between Rouses Point, New York
Rouses Point, New York
Rouses Point is a village in Clinton County, New York, United States, along the 45th parallel. The population was 2,209 at the 2010 census. The village is named after Jacques Rouse, an early settler....
and Alburgh, Vermont, near the Canada – United States border.
Opening, repairs, and closure
The bridge opened to traffic on August 26, 1929. It was one of the first continuous truss road bridges built in the nation, and exhibited characteristics of both a through truss and deck truss design. The bridge was initially tolledToll bridge
A toll bridge is a bridge over which traffic may pass upon payment of a toll, or fee.- History :The practice of collecting tolls on bridges probably harks back to the days of ferry crossings where people paid a fee to be ferried across stretches of water. As boats became impractical to carry large...
; however, the tolls were removed on September 22, 1987. The bridge was rehabilitated in 1991. Work performed at that time included the replacement of the deck and railings, the repainting of the steel trusses, and the repairing of the bridge piers.
In the mid-2000s, the New York State Department of Transportation
New York State Department of Transportation
The New York State Department of Transportation is responsible for the development and operation of highways, railroads, mass transit systems, ports, waterways and aviation facilities in the U.S...
(NYSDOT) and the Vermont Agency of Transportation
Vermont Agency of Transportation
The Vermont Agency of Transportation is a Vermont executive agency . Its purpose is to develop and execute policy on transportation for the U.S. state of Vermont. The agency was created in 1979 by combining the departments of Highway, Motor Vehicles, Aeronautics and Public Transit...
(VTrans) launched the planning process for a project that would result in either the rehabilitation or replacement of the Champlain Bridge. At the time, the projected start date for the project was 2012. However, in 2009, an inspection performed on the bridge as part of the planning process revealed that two of the bridge's support piers were not structurally sound. As a result, the bridge was closed to all traffic on October 16, 2009. NYSDOT Regional Structural Engineer Thomas Hoffman commented that "Under certain conditions we were afraid the bridge could fail abruptly." Prior to the closing, the bridge had already been reduced to one lane for structural steel repairs.
Effects of the closure
The closure of the bridge has caused economic hardship for commuters and local businesses as traffic is greatly reduced on both sides of the lake. Two businesses that have seen more activity are private ferry services; one about 15 miles (24.1 km) south of the bridge has been overwhelmed, while the other service (about 25 miles (40.2 km) north of the bridge) has expanded its hours of operation. Even with expanded hours, and New York state subsidies, the two private services cannot meet demand. The state explored adding a ferry at the bridge location, and the Basin Harbor ClubBasin Harbor Club
The Basin Harbor Club is a club and guesthouse located in Vergennes, Vermont. The club’s first residence building was constructed in 1790 by Platt Rogers, who used it as an inn. The historical building stayed an inn and was run by his daughter after his death....
made its tour boat available to ferry pedestrians. Since the lake freezes in winter, an ice-breaker would be required to keep the ferry services running. The Ticonderoga Ferry was forced to suspend service due to icy conditions from December 17 to December 20, 2009.
On February 1, 2010, Lake Champlain Transportation started a new ferry service at the site of the demolished bridge. The new service is now operating with two boats, departing each side of the crossing every 15 minutes, 24 hours a day. This is a free service subsidized by NYSDOT.
With the new bridge opening in November of 2011, the ferry service has ended as traffic now flows across the bridge once again.
Demolition and replacement
On November 9, 2009, officials in Vermont and New York announced that the bridge was beyond repair and would have to be demolished. Removal of the existing bridge was accomplished by explosive demolition, and was originally scheduled for December 23, 2009. On December 22, officials moved the demolition date to December 28 as a result of the formation of ice on Lake Champlain and cold weather in the area; both factors led to delays in installing the necessary explosives for demolition. The bridge was demolished at 10:03 am on December 28, 2009.The bridge was replaced by a new structure
Lake Champlain Bridge (2011)
The Lake Champlain Bridge is a vehicular bridge traversing Lake Champlain between Crown Point, New York and Chimney Point, Vermont. It replaced the Champlain Bridge.The main span was lifted into place on August 26, 2011...
, a Modified Network Tied Arch concept design. Flatiron Constructors of Longmont, Colorado
Longmont, Colorado
Longmont is a Home Rule Municipality in Boulder and Weld counties in the U.S. state of Colorado. Longmont is located in Northern Colorado. Longmont is the 13th most populous city in the State of Colorado. The word "Longmont" comes from Longs Peak, a prominent mountain named for explorer Stephen H....
, the U.S. subsidiary of German firm Hochtief AG, won the contract for the new bridge, and groundbreaking took place on June 11, 2010. The replacement bridge opened to traffic on November 7, 2011.