Bridge reopening puts village back in business
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Vermont Gov. James Douglas (left) shakes hands with Business Programs Director David Robinson of U.S.D.A. Rural Development, in Richmond on Tuesday, moments before the official reopening ceremony of the Bridge Street Bridge over the Winooski River following a $2 million renovation, which wreaked havoc on local business owners during the three-month closure of the span. The Associated Press |
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By JOHN CURRAN THE ASSOCIATED PRESS - Published: June 24, 2009
RICHMOND — It took $2 million, a lot of patience and a temporary ferry service, but a northwestern Vermont bridge that closed for three months for repairs is back in business.
The Bridge Street Bridge, an 81-year-old steel truss bridge over the Winooski River in Richmond, was toasted Tuesday as the first Vermont project to be completed using money from the $787 billion federal stimulus package.
For the village, which endured inconvenience, business disruption and longer commutes after the state closed the bridge in March, it was cause for celebration.
"Hopefully, business will all rebound and life is good and I can stop stressing about bridges and closings and detours," said Laura Lacaillade, owner of Stargazer Gifts and Toys. She estimates the closing contributed to a 50 percent drop in sales in her store, which is a short walk from the bridge.
The 235-foot span, which connects this community of around 4,100 with nearby Huntington and Hinesburg, was abruptly closed last September when inspectors discovered deteriorating steel support beams. The shutdown forced some commuters, merchants and visitors to take a seven-mile detour.
After temporary repairs, it reopened a month later with only one lane open to traffic but closed again in March for the renovation, which focused on the steel decking but didn't touch the bridge's 37-foot-tall steel superstructure.
About three weeks of work remain to widen the bridge's sidewalk and mark the pavement.
It opened to traffic Friday — and earlier than planned. The contractor earned an $80,000 incentive by beating a June 26 deadline for opening.
Had the contractor missed the reopening deadline, it would have been docked $200 an hour for the first 12 hours, $300 an hour for being 12 to 24 hours late and $600 an hour after that, said state Agency of Transportation project manager Chris Williams.
For those waiting, the business disruption was the hard part.
"My Huntington and Hinesburg customers, I'm just seeing them this week," said Gene Bell, whose Village Bicycle store gets rolling in springtime. "I noticed that some of the people on the other side of the bridge haven't shown up."
But community members rallied in the face of the hardship, suggesting a ferry service and then obtaining a U.S. Department of Agriculture business development grant to pay for it.
More than 40 residents volunteered to work as deck hands.
The pontoon boat ferry — which carried pedestrians and bicyclists — was a big hit, in more ways than one. It was in business for 35 days and carried 10,398 passengers, according to Local Motion, a nonprofit that ran the service. In the process, it brought people closer together, some say.
"We all got to know each other a little bit better on the Winooski River," said Erik Filkhorn, a member of the Richmond Select Board. "It got a little more Mayberry."
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