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Users of Closed Bridge Pray for Resolution

West Addison, Vermont - October 25, 2009

Sunday was the first day Gina Holiday has been back at work since the Champlain Bridge closed more than a week ago. She lives in New York and can't afford to spend an hour and a half and $14 to take the ferry to her job in Vermont every day. "It's not good," she said. "I would like it back open so we can get back to work."

Stories like hers prompted people to gather on both sides of the bridge Sunday for community gatherings and prayer vigils. "Prayer vigil? Well, I think prayer works," said Michael Sweeney of Crown Point, N.Y. "Can't hurt." 

More than a dozen people met under the bridge in West Addison. A much larger group estimated at 75 people met at the same time on the New York side of the lake. The idea -- pray for a solution soon. "It's not just faith in God but faith in each other, that our strength will pull us through this," said Lorraine Franklin, who owns the West Addison General Store. "I think people have lost faith in the government. The fact that this bridge is at the point it is definitely shows we cannot have faith in the government to do what needs to be done. They've abandoned this bridge for way too long."

"God's going to take care of us now because the states sure aren't stepping up," laughed Lisa Cloutier, who owns the Bridge Restaurant at the foot of the bridge.

State officials are looking for solutions that are both feasible and safe. But for now, Michael Sweeney is taking his row boat to cross the lake for work. "Until the ice sets in, I'm leaving a vehicle here tomorrow and I have one on the other side," he said. "That's my solution for now."

Transportation officials from both Vermont and New York will be holding public meetings on either side of the bridge this week. They'll talk about alternatives for crossing the lake and update plans to repair and reopen the bridge. The first meeting is Tuesday, October 27, at the Addison Central School at 121 Vermont Rte. 17W in Addison.  The second meeting is Wednesday, October 28, at the Moriah Central School at 29 Viking Lane in Port Henry, New York. Both meetings will begin at 7:00 p.m.

Kate Duffy - WCAX News