College to provide $9 million to town of Middlebury
1:09 p.m.
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Staff Report - Published: November 30, 2007
MIDDLEBURY ― Middlebury College announced today it will donate $9 million to the town of Middlebury for the construction of an additional bridge spanning Otter Creek.
The mone will come in the form of an annual gift of $600,000 for 30 years to enable the town to borrow $9 million. The bridge will span Otter Creek from Cross Street to Main Street at its intersection with College Street.
"This gift is a response to a request from the town and it reflects the college’s desire to be involved in a project that directly affects the safety of the Middlebury community,” said Middlebury College President Ronald D. Liebowitz in a news release today. “It is integral to the safety of students, faculty, staff, other area residents and to the betterment of the town.”
The new bridge is expected to ease traffic congestion in downtown Middlebury, provide an additional route for emergency vehicles and serve as a detour, permitting Battell Bridge, Pulp Mill Bridge, and two downtown railroad overpasses to be repaired as needed.
Each day, more than 16,000 vehicles cross the Battell Bridge, which was built in 1892-1893.
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