Lake Champlain Bridge Arch Lift Under Way

ALBANY, NY (08/26/2011)(readMedia)-- New York State Department of Transportation (NYSDOT) Commissioner Joan McDonald said today the Lake Champlain Bridge center arch span installation is under way, with expectations that the arch will be in place by the end of the day today.

"This beautiful arch will make it clear to the people in the region that we are very close to completing the new Lake Champlain Bridge," said McDonald. "I look forward to the day this year when we reopen the bridge to the public, as we enter the final phase of this important and historic bridge reconstruction."

The center arch installation process began at sunrise this morning when the arch was floated from its construction site at Velez Marine in Port Henry to the bridge site.

The main navigational channel through the center span has been closed and will remain so until the arch is lifted into place and secured. Marine traffic is being directed through an alternative navigational channel during this time period.

The ferry connecting New York State to Vermont has remained open and operational at all times today during the work.

Although there are several vantage points from which to view the lift process, limited parking and traffic congestion may make viewing difficult. NYSDOT has made available to the public a webcam view at https://www.nysdot.gov/lakechamplainbridge/bridgecam. The webcam takes periodic still shots of the construction site.