Recommendations Received for Lake Champlain Bridge Replacement

ALBANY, NY (12/17/2009)(readMedia)-- New York State Department of Transportation (NYSDOT) and Vermont Agency of Transportation (VTrans) today announced that a public survey conducted on NYSDOT's Web site showed an overwhelming majority of people favor the Modified Network Tied Arch Bridge concept as a replacement to the existing Lake Champlain Bridge. More than 3,500 people weighed in to cast their vote for the replacement design.

Additionally, the Public Advisory Committee issued a final recommendation for its preferred design for the replacement of the Lake Champlain Bridge. The PAC agreed with the public survey results and also recommended replacing the existing structure with a Modified Network Tied Arch Bridge.

New York and Vermont created the PAC to gather input from the public, elected officials and other interested groups on bridge replacement alternatives, aesthetics of and amenities of the new structure. The PAC made its recommendation to the two states at a meeting Tuesday in Ticonderoga.

The Modified Network Tied Arch Bridge is a steel structure with a handle-like arch along the main span. Multiple redundancies in the design make this bridge significantly safer than the existing structure and ensure at least a 75-year service life. The design also is visually pleasing, complementing the mountainous back drop.

Public preference will be one of many factors considered as NYSDOT chooses a replacement bridge design and will play a significant role in the final determination. NYSDOT expects to make a final decision in mid-January after further consultation with project stakeholders.

A rendering of and more details about the Modified Network Tied Arch Bridge can be found at

https://www.nysdot.gov/lakechamplainbridge/alternatives.