Breaking news: Crown Point Bridge reduced to one lane; officials cite deteriorating trusses

By ANDY KIRKALDY
ADDISON — As of Friday, traffic on the Crown Point Bridge, which links Addison with Crown Point, N.Y., will be reduced to one lane to allow New York Department of Transportation workers to perform repairs to the span’s steel trusses.

NYDOT spokesman Peter Van Keuren said traffic will be limited to one lane on the bridge until at least the end of August while work is done on its structure, and a 40-ton weight limit will also be imposed on trucks.

Traffic will be controlled at either end of the bridge by signals. Van Keuren said allowing just one line of vehicles at a time to cross the span would reduce stress on its structure while it is being repaired.

A June inspection of the bridge uncovered the problems with deteriorating steel trusses, and officials decided this week it was no longer safe to allow a full load of traffic on the bridge, a major link between Vermont and New York used by up to 40,000 vehicles a day.

Van Keuren said officials expect delays, especially during this holiday weekend. Alternative routes include Route 4 through Whitehall, N.Y., and ferries in Shoreham and Charlotte.

A full report will appear in the July 6 edition of the Addison Independent.