[MRVphotog]

It's mostly a local problem as people coming up to Vermont from the south(NY, Albany areas) to ski, foliage, whatever have two other popular routes they can take to get into Vermont. It really doesn't effect folks coming down from Montreal, which will be increased as the exchange rate is almost being on par again, use a northern route.

I grew about 30 miles from the bridge in the Daks but rarely use it to visit as the route thru Rutland>Whitehall>Ft Ann>I87 works best for me.

[68vette]

It is or will have an effect on some who work in the Burlington area. We have many people who live in that area or take the roads that service that area into Vermont to work at various businesses in the Burlington area. Right now they are sucking it up and using the ferry. Many businesses don't give compensation for using the ferry system and that is why the bridge was so important. At FAHC we have had a small ding to our per diem pool already. It's not financially worth coming across the lake for some people when you have to loose a few hours worth of income to pay for the ferry.

[Sherylcatmom]

States to offer ferries for free: Rutland Herald Online

[sundialstreet]

I'm glad they decided to offer ferry rides. I travel between here and upstate NY and often use that scary bridge to get to 87. It drives me nuts to go up to Grand Isle or drive down 22A (which takes f o r e v e r) especially since driving 22A causes me to have to double back to pick up route 8, which with gas prices creeping up, is a bit of a hardship.

I feel very badly for the local businesses on either side of the bridge (places I have grown quite fond of). Because of the closure, I definitely haven't been spending money at the gas station (one of my faves) on RT 17 or any of the little restaurants in Crown Point. Good people operate those businesses and they are being seriously hurt by the closure.

[MRVphotog]

Heard on the news that they will be stationing an icebreaker so the ferry can run unfettered during the winter. They wanted to build a temp bridge but the best location was 10 miles away so at a recent public meeting enough people squawked that is wasn't any improvement timewise from the ferry so I guess they won't build it.

[j_jimerino]

I know no one probably wants to hear it, but I'd be VERY surprised if a new bridge ever got built. If we're lucky they'll throw some spackle on that piece of crap and open it back up for a few more years before it falls in the lake. But when was the last time Vermont built a new road? 25 years ago? And even if that section of the lake wasn't framed by historical sites you can bet your ass some one would be sueing for environmental impact or a wet land would be discovered at the new construction site.

And to even get to those problems, we'd actually have to have the extra money in the transportation budget. Better hope NY wants to pay for it. If I owned a business down there that depended on bridge traffic, I'd close up and move on. Even if they some how found a way to ram through all the permitting and building regulations and found the money to repair it, a project like that is going to take years to complete.

I predict there will be nothing but a ferry there from now on.

[MRVphotog]

Originally Posted by j_jimerino

I know no one probably wants to hear it, but I'd be VERY surprised if a new bridge ever got built. If we're lucky they'll throw some spackle on that piece of crap and open it back up for a few more years before it falls in the lake. But when was the last time Vermont built a new road? 25 years ago? And even if that section of the lake wasn't framed by historical sites you can bet your ass some one would be sueing for environmental impact or a wet land would be discovered at the new construction site.

And to even get to those problems, we'd actually have to have the extra money in the transportation budget. Better hope NY wants to pay for it. If I owned a business down there that depended on bridge traffic, I'd close up and move on. Even if they some how found a way to ram through all the permitting and building regulations and found the money to repair it, a project like that is going to take years to complete.

I predict there will be nothing but a ferry there from now on.

As mentioned in other posts the bridge was set for replacement, construction starting in 2013. NYDOT is already in the middle of the design phase of the new bridge. 50m has been budgeted for the entire pre-constuction phase. The cost of rebuilding the bridge will be mostly funded by the feds road/bridge stimulus money.

This type of situation is not new. In Maine a much larger bridge, the Waldo Hancock, on US 1 near Bucksport, had a similar situation. It took 3 years to build the new bridge and it's not only amazing, they put in an elevator in one of the new bridge towers so people can check out the view, which is breathtaking, but even most of the whiners up there are very happy the way things turned out. The workers building the new bridge worked their butts off even thru the winters to get the job ASAP. The one neg, as with most big public projects at least one worker was killed, can't remember if there were more. When the new Crown Point Bridge is under construction I expect the same kind of effort will be put forth as well.
http://www.earthcam.com/client/mainedot/index.php

A new bridge will be built but I suspect folks with no patience will be squawking for years until it is finished, currently set for 2016. This current situation is definately a PITA for many but like the Waldo-Hancock when it's completed it will be awesome. Chances are, like most big construction jobs, it will start later than planned, cost more than the original budget and will take longer than planned but it will be rebuilt.

Please check out the links in Vter's post in this thread to get the facts about the situation

[mustmove]

The route 7 widening was fully funded 20+ years ago. Route 7 hasn't been widened and the money is all gone spent on environmental studies. I don't know what will happen but just about anyone in VT can stop just about any project. I hope they rebuild it, but I wouldn't bet anything on a timely solution.

[quickdraw]

Originally Posted by mustmove

The route 7 widening was fully funded 20+ years ago. Route 7 hasn't been widened and the money is all gone spent on environmental studies. I don't know what will happen but just about anyone in VT can stop just about any project. I hope they rebuild it, but I wouldn't bet anything on a timely solution.

Hopefully NY will take charge, because in Vermont there will have to be a study... to see if we should have a study... to have a study.....

[Summerz]

Originally Posted by quickdraw

Hopefully NY will take charge, because in Vermont there will have to be a study... to see if we should have a study... to have a study.....

Isn't that the truth lol!