It may have taken 752 days, but it was well worth the wait to cross the new Lake Champlain Bridge last week.
Built in record time (at least by 2011 standards), the new bridge cost $76 million. It sports “modular” technology that will enable upgrades and it supports a new, high-tech fiber optic cable that will improve Internet connections from Burlington to Rutland. This digital infrastructure—carried by the new bridge across the lake—will help spur jobs in the region in the coming years. And all indications are that the new bridge will serve the region for at least 75-80 years (or more) to come.
At the official bridge opening Nov. 7, Vermont and New York officials—including Gov. Peter Shumlin (D) and New York Lt. Gov. Robert Duffy (D)—as well as other local leaders, deservedly praised the various parties involved in making the bridge a reality. They also rightfully thanked former Gov. Jim Douglas (R) and Gov. David Paterson (D) for getting the ball rolling.
Now that we’re basking in the ecstacy of the new bridge, let’s not forget the agony endured by local commuters and business owners during those nightmare 752 days. The lack of a bridge took a terrible toll with shuttered businesses and vanished jobs in its wake.
Lisa Couture, owner of the Bridge Restaurant in Addison, located a few hundred yards from the Vermont entrance to the span, was one of the early voices in making sure officials listened to local people.
Today, so many of our elected and appointed officials have condescending attitudes, as if they know better when it comes what to eat, what to drive, even how to vote. Yet, in story after story, they demonstrate just how clueless they can be.
Couture inspired others to speak out, too.
In short order, new community leaders emerged like Lorraine Franklin. She and others, including Rep. Diane Lanpher (D) of Vergennes, spurred public meetings that got officials to commit to rebuilding the bridge on the original 1929 footings—not at the Ticonderoga-Shoreham narrows as first thought. Our local, vocal citizenry also spurred the move to have residents select the final bridge design.
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