Safety Precautions Necessary During Lake Champlain Bridge Demolition

ALBANY, NY (12/23/2009)(readMedia)-- The New York State Department of Transportation (NYSDOT) today reinforced safety precautions for the public before, during and after the demolition of the Lake Champlain Bridge. The demolition poses significant public safety hazards, therefore strict safety measures must be adhered to.

NYSDOT and the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) have deemed the ice surrounding the Lake Champlain Bridge as unsafe and are once again urging the public to stay off it. Warming temperatures over the weekend will weaken existing ice and prevent it from thickening. In most places, the ice is less than four inches thick.

On the day of demolition, the bridge will be dropped directly into Lake Champlain. The impact of thousands of pounds of bridge pieces dropping into the lake will cause a wave that will further weaken any formed pieces of ice. The public should, under no circumstances, attempt to view demolition from the ice, or venture onto the weakened ice following demolition.

Additionally, ferry construction crews will continue to break ice in the immediate vicinity of the bridge so that they can work in the water. This ice-breaking activity is expected to further weaken and crack ice in the area surrounding the bridge. When construction is complete, running the ferry between New York and Vermont 24 hours a day will further prevent ice formation.

NYSDOT also cautioned members of the public to keep a clear distance away from the railroad tracks when gathering to view the bridge demolition. The tracks run parallel to the roadway and in some instances provide clear, but very dangerous views of the bridge. In order to ensure public safety, members of the public must not stand or park on the tracks. Passenger and freight trains use the corridor frequently and travel at very high speeds, posing a risk to anyone trying to view the bridge from roadside locations.

In order to protect workers, media and the public, warning sirens will sound ten minutes, five minutes and one minute before the demolition occurs.

On the day of the event both the DEC campground and Crown Point Historic Site will be closed to the public. Security will be posted at the intersection of Bridge Road and Route 9N beginning at 7 p.m. on Dec. 27 to prevent access to the site.

The blast poses significant public safety hazards and the contractor has designated a 1,000-foot safety zone on land, in addition to a 2,000-foot no-fly zone above the bridge and a 1,000-foot water safety zone. Shrapnel could fly nearly 1,000 feet after detonation and therefore the public must be kept at a significant distance from the bridge during demolition. Those who are planning on attending the demolition should bring ear protection, as the blast will exceed a 130-decibel sound level, and could present hearing safety issues.

For the safety and convenience of the public, the boat launch in Port Henry has been designated by NYSDOT for public viewing of the bridge demolition. Those who plan to attend are warned to plan for bitterly cold temperatures, and advised to plan for heavy traffic in the area of the Port Henry boat launch. Traffic control measures will be in place the morning of demolition and a limited number of chemical toilets will be available at the site. Limited parking is available at the site. Police officers will be on hand to direct traffic and variable message signs will update motorists regarding parking availability. An alternate suggested viewing area is located at the Bulwagga Bay Park in the town of Moriah, but no facilities will be provided at this site.

A live broadcast of the bridge demolition will be available via the Internet. Those preferring to watch the bridge demolition from the comfort of their homes or offices may access a link to the live broadcast from the NYSDOT website at www.nysdot.gov.

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