This Is The Future For Us

Sept 7

 The Vilas was closed to vehicular traffic in 2009, and residents are unhappy plans to repair or replace it have been deferred. At the time it was closed, a reported average of 4,600 vehicles crossed the structure every day and village residents now say businesses are suffering because the traffic from Walpole, N.H., has been cut off.

 Ours is 10,000 a day...

Except: Our river is too wide and deep for a temp bridge...
Compared to our 1921 bridge, this guy was cut down in its youth.

Come on people, the writing is on the wall. There are two dead bridges within 60 miles north of us. These guys died in their preverbal youth. The Vilas Bridge was built in 1930 and US 4 Lebanon, NH-Hartford Bridge was built in 1936. Do you honestly think they took better care of the Hinsdale Bridges...how can no upkeep be better that the others?

One of the NHDOT good old boys would never get fired for turning a $10 million dollar bridge replacement into a $13 million dollar job. They wasted $3 million dollars on the temp bridge because they didn't replace the 1936 bridge in a timely manner.

"CPM Constructors, of Freeport, Maine was the general contractor for the $2.9 million temporary bridge project. Morrill Construction, of North Haverhill, New Hampshire performed site work."

The Lebanon-Harford bridge was shutdown on runaway cancerous and dangerous corrosion. Do you get the feeling they need to call the bridge unsafe before they begin to plan for a replacement?

So they run a bridge till it fails...  

Vilas Bridge: 1930

US 4 Lebanon, NH-Hartford: 1936 

Hinsdale route 119: 1921

By Jordan Cuddemi

Valley News Staff Writer

Friday, August 2, 2013
(Published in print: Friday, August 2, 2013)

        

Building Razed to Make Way for Bridge Project

White River Junction — A vacant apartment building at the corner of Route 4 and Prospect Street was mostly torn down Thursday to make way for construction of a new permanent bridge between White River Junction and West Lebanon.     

The bidding period for companies interested in the bridge project closed yesterday afternoon, and once New Hampshire awards the contract, work is expected to be completed by October 2015 at an estimated cost of $10 million.A temporary bridge was installed in 2009 after the existing span built in 1936 was closed due to unsafe levels of corrosion.A dust cloud rose Thursday while workers from Nott’s Excavating, of White River Junction, used a backhoe to raze the vacant three-story, 3,400-square-foot former apartment building that was built in 1920.

Old mattresses, Star Trek posters, dated appliances and building materials accumulated into an unsightly pile of rubble. All that stood last night was the corner of the building nearest the closed bridge.

 

Temporary US 4 Lebanon, NH-Hartford, VT Bridge Opens

Removal Of 10-Ton Weight Posting Will Allow Truck Traffic On Connecticut River Bridge Until A New Bridge Can Be Built  

The New Hampshire Department of Transportation (NHDOT) announces a newly constructed temporary bridge carrying US Route 4 over the Connecticut River between Lebanon, New Hampshire (Bridge Street) and Hartford, Vermont (Maple Street) opened today to traffic.

The temporary bridge allows full legal loads. It also has a sidewalk open for pedestrian traffic.

The 390-foot long US Route 4 Bridge was built in 1936 and rebuilt in 1976. It is a State of New Hampshire "Red List" bridge, with more frequent inspections required due to known deficiencies. The bridge was posted at a 10-Ton load limit in July of 2008 that restricted heavy truck traffic. It has now been closed to all traffic and motorists are being detoured onto the temporary bridge. Current plans are to advertise for a permanent bridge replacement in 2012.

CPM Constructors, of Freeport, Maine was the general contractor for the $2.9 million temporary bridge project. Morrill Construction, of North Haverhill, New Hampshire performed site work.

Truck Restrictions On Lebanon, Nh – Hartford, Vt Bridge

Us Route 4 Bridge Over The Connecticut River

The New Hampshire Department of Transportation and the Vermont Agency of Transportation announce the planned restriction of heavy truck traffic and the use of alternating one-way traffic on the US Route 4 Bridge over the Connecticut River connecting Lebanon, New Hampshire (Bridge Street) and Hartford (White River Junction), Vermont (Maple Street) on Monday, July 21, 2008.

This truck restriction will be in place pending further inspections and evaluation of the bridge. Initial evaluations and analysis of the bridge have found continued and significant corrosion on the steel structure. Depending on what further inspections show, it is possible the bridge will be posted to a 10-ton load capacity to protect public safety.

Signs will be in place beginning July 18 alerting motorists to the trucking restrictions and advising trucks to seek alternate routes, including the Interstate 89 bridges over the Connecticut River.

The 390-foot long US Route 4 Bridge was built in 1936 and rebuilt in 1976. It is a State of New Hampshire “Red List” bridge, with more frequent inspections required due to known deficiencies. It is scheduled to be replaced in 2010.