Lake Champlain Bridge (2011)

Lake Champlain Bridge
Coordinates 44°01′57″N 73°25′24″W / 44.03250°N 73.42333°W / 44.03250; -73.42333
Carries Two lanes of NY 185 and VT 17
Crosses Lake Champlain
Locale Crown Point, New York and Chimney Point, Vermont
Maintained by NYSDOT and VTrans
Characteristics
Design Modified network tied arch
Total length 2,200 ft (670 m)[1]
Longest span 480 ft (150 m) (clear span)
402 ft (123 m) (tied arch span)[1]
History
Opened November 7, 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 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.

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 Longmont, 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
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.

References

The completed bridge, as seen from the Crown Point Light
  1. 1 2 Lake Champlain Bridge Project – Construction, New York State Department of Transportation, retrieved 12 August 2014
  2. 1 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. 2011-08-17. Retrieved 27 August 2011.
  4. 1 2 http://www.timesunion.com/local/article/Lake-Champlain-Bridge-set-to-open-2251393.php
  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", flatironcorp.com, June 8, 2010. Retrieved 2015-11-25.
  8. ↑ Lake Champlain Bridge Project, New York State Department of Transportation, retrieved 12 August 2014
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