Summerstown, ON, Aug 12, 2010 — The Canadian government announced Tuesday it will begin building a new bridge between Cornwall and Cornwall Island next spring. The lower, shorter span will open up acres of land along the St. Lawrence River. City of Cornwall and Mohawk officials applauded the project, which will cost $75 million.

We'll have more next week on what the new bridge could mean for the ex-paper mill town of Cornwall. Construction was to have begun last summer.

But a standoff between Canadian border officials and Akwesasne Mohawks delayed the project and led to the closure of the customs checkpoint on Cornwall Island. The dispute over arming border agents shut down the international bridge between Cornwall and Massena for six weeks.

Today, Canada still operates a make shift checkpoint in the city of Cornwall. Locals report delays of up to two hours. Canadian and tribal officials haven't met in months. And Mohawks on Cornwall Island say they're stuck in a netherworld between two borders. David Sommerstein reports.  Go to full article

Addison, VT, May 12, 2010 — The budget crisis in Albany is threatening to bring state construction projects to a standstill. But New York's Department of Transportation says the effort to rebuild the Lake Champlain bridge at Crown Point is still on track. With eighty percent of the funding coming from the Federal government, the project appears to be insulated from most of the chaos in the state capital. But as Brian Mann reports, many local residents still worry that the bridge could be delayed.  Go to full article

Jan 28, 2010 — Governor David Paterson was in the North Country yesterday, announcing that a new, temporary ferry will begin serving Crown Point and Addison Vermont as early as this weekend. The Lake Champlain bridge closed in mid-October after inspectors founds the concrete pilings were disintegrating. As Brian Mann reports, residents and business-owners in the Champlain Valley see the new ferry as another big step toward returning their lives to normal.  Go to full article

Ogdensburg, NY, Jan 15, 2010 — A state report says the international bridge between Ogdenbsurg and Prescott, Ontario is in "urgent need" of repair. The bridge over the St. Lawrence River rates 4.3, or "partially deficient", on a 7-point scale used by the Department of Transportation. The report by Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli warns closing the bridge would cost the region millions of dollars in commerce and tourism. Local officials say they welcome the attention of the Comptroller's report. They hope it'll attract the $75 million needed to repair the 50-year-old span. David Sommerstein reports.  Go to full article

Dec 28, 2009 — State officials still sound confident that today is the day they'll demolish the Crown Point bridge. Cold weather delayed the countdown last week. But this morning at 10am engineers plan to trigger more than 800 pounds of explosives, knocking the massive structure into Lake Champlain. Brian Mann is in the Chaplain Valley and spoke this morning with Martha Foley.  Go to full article

Dec 23, 2009 — As we've been hearing this morning, the eighty-year-old Crown Point bridge will survive for a little bit longer. The historic structure was slated for demolition this morning at 10 am. But the big moment has been delayed until Monday morning at ten. Brian Mann was in Ticonderoga for a briefing by Department of Transportation officials yesterday and he spoke with Martha Foley.  Go to full article

Addison, VT, Dec 17, 2009 — An advisory committee has recommended a last-minute design as the replacement for the closed Lake Champlain Bridge, set to be demolished in the coming weeks. Martha Foley has more.  Go to full article

Nov 20, 2009 — State officials say construction has begun on a new vehicle ferry that will run between Crown Point and Addison Vermont. A ferry made test runs at the site yesterday. Meanwhile, state officials have unveiled a new multi-million dollar aid package designed to help residents stranded by the bridge closure. Brian Mann has details.  Go to full article

Addison, VT, Nov 10, 2009 — New York's acting Transportation commissioner says the Crown Point bridge is too seriously damaged to be repaired. Todd Moe has more.  Go to full article

Oct 29, 2009 — Nearly two weeks of frustration over the closure of the Crown Point Bridge boiled over last night during a public meeting in Port Henry. Dozens of people whose lives and businesses have been disrupted by the October 16th bridge closure vented their anger and frustration to state Department of Transportation officials and representatives of Governor David Paterson. While no permanent solutions were offered, DOT officials are continuing to work on a series of short-term travel options to help those who've been impacted by the bridge closure. Chris Knight reports.  Go to full article