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Officials: Champlain Bridge needs to be torn down

2:40 p.m.



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Published: November 9, 2009

Transportation officials announced today that the Champlain Bridge, which was closed last month due to severe erosion found on some of the concrete piers supporting the span, cannot be rehabilitated.

The 2,184-foot bridge connects Crown Point, N.Y., and Addison and accommodated about 3,500 vehicles a day before it was closed by New York transportation officials Oct. 16.

“It cannot be rehabilitated and we need to tear it down for safety reasons,” Acting New York Department of Transportation Commissioner Stanley Gee said of the bridge at a press conference held this afternoon in Addison.

Gee said transportation officials in Vermont and New York are now in the process of designing a way to demolish the bridge as well as coming up with a design for a replacement bridge.







READER COMMENTS


I think you will find that the annual roads budget in Vermont is about $420 million per year. There are about 350 million gallons of gasoline sold in Vermont per year, with total federal and state tax of about 42 cents per gallon. There are about 70 million gallons of diesel sold per year, with a total state and federal tax of about 50 cents per gallon. So that means approximately $150 million per year in gasoline taxes generated, and $35 million in diesel taxes generated, by fuel tax at the pump. This is slightly less than half the annual budget for roads.

Therefore, it is incorrect to say that fuel taxes are being siphoned off for "socialist programs". They are inadequate to cover the cost of keeping roads in repair.

Our fuel taxes are actually below the national average, but our bad winters make the need for road maintenance higher. A couple of years ago, to generate more revenues for roads, the Governor and Legislature raised registrations and licensing fees. That is insane. While tax on motor fuel is paid by everyone buying fuel, including out of state visitors, motor vehicle fees, licenses and registrations are paid 100% by Vermonters.
-- Posted by Ray Makul on Mon, Nov 9, 2009, 10:02 pm EST

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Ray, there is PLENTY of tax money going to the state. A lot of it just seems to end up being given out like candy to various socialist programs that we deem we can never have enough people on. You're so willing to give more, feel free. I'm sure the state would appreciate the extra income so they could **** it away on something worthless.
-- Posted by None None on Mon, Nov 9, 2009, 8:30 pm EST

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Some people, if they were on the Titanic, would not want to pay for a lifeboat.
-- Posted by Ray Makul on Mon, Nov 9, 2009, 5:10 pm EST

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some people might not remember that this bridge was a toll bridge for years
for the sole purpose of maintaince where did all of the money go
this was property of the state of new york to maintain.
-- Posted by jerry carleton on Mon, Nov 9, 2009, 4:34 pm EST

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Gasoline tax a wee higher? Where did the gasoline tax we now pay go, along with the sales tax on car purchases and registration fees? Tax and spend has never and will never be the answer!! Governments need to be accountable to the people, not the other way around.
-- Posted by ex-vermonter None on Mon, Nov 9, 2009, 4:27 pm EST

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It would have been a lot cheaper if the gasoline tax was a wee bit higher and our infrastructure properly maintained. This bridge was visibly deteriorating for many years. The need for additional maintenance was obvious. But no maintenance ever occurred.

The "no new taxes" crowd ruled the day, and instead of spending a few dollars to keep the bridge in good repair, it must now be demolished and an expensive replacement constructed. "Penny wise and Pound foolish".

The chickens come home to roost for the ***********.
-- Posted by Ray Makul on Mon, Nov 9, 2009, 4:04 pm EST

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