Missisquoi Bay Bridge

USA / Vermont / Alburg /
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Missisquoi Bay Bridge (a/k/a Alburg/Swanton Land bridge) on US Route 78 was considered "the most dangerous bridge in Vermont". Built in 1938, the combination of 7 spans, a non-functional drawbridge and two causeways spanned the 4800 foot wide section of lake.

There were no shoulders the length of the causeway and bridge for emergency pull offs. Traffic could not be safely accommodated in both directions when making repairs to the bridge and causeways and cyclists were forced to ride in traveled lanes with trucks and cars. The lane and shoulder widths were below Vermont State and AASHTO Standards.

The drawbridge became inoperable in 1988 when the Vermont Agency of Transportation was forced to weld the lifespan shut due to severe deterioration of the deck. This prohibited water vessels over 13 feet in height from passing under the bridge in either direction from the northeast arm of Lake Champlain to Missisquoi Bay. Failure to keep the bridge and accessory works in good order was in direct violation of the US Coast Guard regulations and carries a civil penalty of $1100 per day of violation. The US Coast Guard agreed to waive the penalty as long as progress toward replacing the bridge was made.

Cianbro Corp. of Pittsfield, Maine, was chosen to construct the replacement bridge at a cost of $32.2 million. The new bridge opened in 2007. It is situated just a few yards south of the visible bridge in this very old sat image.

Source: www.aot.state.vt.us/progdev/sections/structures/MBB/Ind...
Nearby cities:
Coordinates:   44°58'22"N   73°13'9"W

Comments

  • The new bridge opened in 1997. At that price you'd expect that they would have at least provided a sidewalk, but that's not the case. No sidewalk. Long live the powerful petroleum oligarchy!
  • Whoops, I meant 2007.
This article was last modified 16 years ago