Floating Bridge Reopening on Oct. 2

Floating Bridge Reopening on Oct. 2

With a 120-foot concrete dam on Sunset Lake nearly complete, plans are underway for a ceremonious, two-Secretary reopening of Brookfield’s famous Floating Bridge on October 2.

Agency of Transportation Secretary Brian Searles and Agency of Natural Resources chief Scott Johnstone will attend the 2 p.m. ribbon-cutting, according to Richard Watts of the AOT.

The state’s only floating bridge —a notable tourist attraction and a convenient route for local residents —has been closed since August, 1998, when a privately-owned dam failed and caused the lake level to drop.

After a modest 1998 repair also failed, the legislature okayed in 1999 a $275,000 appropriation, requested by Sen. Mark MacDonald, to rebuild and take over the dam and spillway, which was owned by resident Larry Favreau.

The dam put in this summer, said state bridge engineer Robert Finucane, "is one for the ages."

Construction slid a few weeks behind schedule, Finucane said, because some unanticipated problems—if uncooperative ledge can be called an unanticipated problem in Vermont—were discovered. He praised contractor Larry Hebert of Williamstown, however, for "rising to the occasion" with each extra problem and delay.

As a result of the extra adaptations, the dam "is probably even stronger and better than originally designed," Finucane said.

Only a small portion of the concrete substructure will be visible, Finucane said. Most will be buried with earth and a portion will be faced with wood, to replicate the look of the old spillway.

After the dam construction site is cleared, highway workers will move in to inspect and make any needed repairs to the Floating Bridge, said AOT district technician Doug Newton.

The approaches will be regraded, he said, and some broken rails repaired. Divers from AOT’s bridge inspection division will check underwater.

Everyone, said Newton, "is fully aware of the Oct. 2 opening" and committed to having all work done by then.

Newton noted that although lake levels are now only a few inches shy of historic norms, the bridge won’t be reopened to traffic until Oct. 2.

—By Sandy Cooch