Lake Champlain Bridge (2011–present)

The Lake Champlain Bridge is a vehicular bridge traversing Lake Champlain between Crown Point, New York and Chimney Point, Vermont. It replaced an older bridge that was demolished in 2009. The bridge was designed and constructed during an aggressive two-year schedule to minimize the social and economic impact of the original bridge's demolition.[2] It is the only fixed-link crossing of Lake Champlain/Champlain canal between US 4 in Whitehall, 42 miles (68 km) to the south and US 2 at Rouses Point, 85 miles (137 km) to the north.

This article is about the newer bridge spanning Lake Champlain. For the former bridge it replaced, see Lake Champlain Bridge (1929–2009).

Lake Champlain Bridge
Coordinates44°01′57″N 73°25′24″W
CarriesTwo lanes of NY 185 and VT 17
CrossesLake Champlain
LocaleCrown Point, New York and Chimney Point, Vermont
Maintained byNYSDOT and VTrans
Characteristics
DesignModified network tied arch
Total length2,200 ft (670 m)[1]
Longest span480 ft (150 m) (clear span)
402 ft (123 m) (tied arch span)[1]
History
OpenedNovember 7, 2011

The main arch span was prefabricated off-site in Port Henry, floated by barge to the already constructed approach spans, and then lifted into place on August 26, 2011.[2] The completed bridge was originally scheduled to open on October 9, 2011, but was delayed due to construction delays from underwater debris and record flooding.[3]

The bridge opened to the public on Monday, November 7, 2011, following a ribbon-cutting ceremony.[4]

Description

After state inspectors determined that the previous Champlain Bridge was beyond repair in 2009, the states of New York and Vermont agreed to replace it.[5] The new bridge employs a modified network tied arch design.[6] Flatiron Constructors of Broomfield, Colorado, the U.S. subsidiary of the German firm, Hochtief AG, won the contract for the new bridge, and groundbreaking took place on June 11, 2010.[7] The bridge construction contract was for $69.6 million. It was completed six weeks ahead of schedule, but at a cost of $78.29 million.[4][8]

A panorama of the replacement bridge under construction. The main arch span was brought in by barge and raised between the two approach spans shown above.
  • View from the bridge deck during the "Grand Celebration" for the re-opening of the Lake Champlain Bridge on May 19, 2012.
  • View of Lake Champlain Bridge from Crown Point.
  • Aerial view of Lake Champlain Bridge connecting Addison, Vermont (right) & Crown Point, New York (left).
  • View from below the Lake Champlain Bridge on the Vermont side on Chimney Point.
  • View from the south of the bridge.
gollark: You can't go faster than light, it's unlegal.
gollark: "All future lightcones point inward" or something.
gollark: No, as far as I'm aware the definition of the event horizon is that you can't leave regardless of what you do when you go past it.
gollark: And also gives you cancer.
gollark: I've heard it doesn't actually work very well for that.

References
The completed bridge, as seen from the Crown Point Light
  1. Lake Champlain Bridge Project – Construction, New York State Department of Transportation, retrieved August 12, 2014
  2. Zoli, Theodore, P.E. "A Bridge by the People, for the People", Civil Engineering Magazine, June 2012. The American Society of Civil Engineers.
  3. "Lake Champlain Bridge opening celebration to be delayed". Your News Now. August 17, 2011. Retrieved August 27, 2011.
  4. Waldman, Scott (November 3, 2011). "Lake Champlain Bridge set to open". Times Union.
  5. Karlin, Rick (November 9, 2009). "Champlain Bridge can't be fixed, will be rebuilt". Times Union. Albany, New York. Retrieved November 9, 2009.
  6. "New York Governor Paterson and Vermont Governor Douglas announce design for the new Lake Champlain bridge" (Press release). Governor of New York. January 14, 2010. Archived from the original on March 4, 2010. Retrieved February 16, 2010.
  7. "Flatiron secures $70M contract to construct new Lake Champlain Bridge project". www.flatironcorp.com. Flatiron Construction Corp. June 8, 2010. Archived from the original on October 27, 2010. Retrieved November 25, 2015.
  8. Lake Champlain Bridge Project, New York State Department of Transportation, retrieved August 12, 2014
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