CROWN POINT — Some business owners say the sudden closure of the Champlain Bridge could also force closure of their enterprises.

When the bridge linking Crown Point with Chimney Point, Vt., closed Oct. 16, it meant drivers of the 4,000 vehicles a day that had been crossing the span had to find new ways to get where they were going.

It also meant greatly reduced traffic in communities around the bridge, like Port Henry, Crown Point and Ticonderoga.

DINER MAY CLOSE
Helen Robinson, owner of Helen's Place in Port Henry, also known as the Miss Port Henry Diner, said she may have to close her restaurant because of the bridge closure.

"My business is down at least 20 percent. When I pay my staff, there's not much left. I don't want to close, but there's a strong chance I will have to."

She said she's applied for another job so she can support herself.

The bridge was closed because a contractor doing steel replacement on the bridge, on the final day of work, found an incline crack in a concrete bridge support pillar.

If the crack spread, the bridge could collapse under its own weight, State Department of Transportation Regional Engineer Michael Fayette said.

OUTREACH CENTER
DOT is among state agencies that have set up an outreach center open daily in the Lake Champlain Visitors Center building next to the bridge.

It's being staffed by the State Office of Emergency Management, State Department of Labor, Department of Health, Agriculture and Markets, Empire State Development and others.

State Emergency Management Director John Gibb was there Friday, and he said they're extending their hours for today to be open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Department of Labor North Country liaison Clifford Donaldson Jr. said his agency is assessing the impact now so it can provide help to workers and businesses.

AID FORMS
Anyone with a question or concern or who wants to fill out an economic-impact aid form should come to the center, Gibb said.

"If we can answer people's questions, we will. This is an economic disaster. We need to quantify the impact."

They're trying to get monetary assistance for people, Gibb said, and filling out the impact form will expedite that if it comes through.

"We know the types of problems people can face. It's an unbearable hardship. We know people want action. We're looking at every option."

EXPERTS ON SITE
Moriah Town Supervisor Thomas Scozzafava said Friday he believes the state is doing what it can as fast as it can.

The state has hired world-renowned bridge engineering firm HNTB of New York City to examine core samples from the bridge pillars and come up with a solution.

Workers from the firm were under the bridge Friday extracting the samples.

One option would be to encapsulate the existing concrete piers with new, reinforced concrete, which would be welcome news, Scozzafava said.

He said he has reliable information that a decision will be made and announced next week, possibly during a community meeting at Moriah Central School at 7 p.m. Wednesday.

"I've never seen an issue this widespread. People can't afford this. I've heard from people who have canceled their medical appointments because they can't get across. We're sitting by the phone waiting for the decision on the immediate fix."

FERRIES, SHUTTLES
Alison Matot, co-owner of the independent Fort Ticonderoga Ferry, said they expanded hours and will stay open past the regular seasonal Oct. 31 closing date.

"We'll do what we can to help people," she said. "We put temporary lights in place so we can be open at night."

The Essex County Transportation Department will be running buses from the County Fairgrounds in Westport to the Westport Marina, where the new Basin Harbor pedestrian ferry is landing.

In Vermont, buses will run from Basin Harbor to employers in Vergennes.

The county's AuSable Forks bus runs at 7 a.m. and 4:57 p.m. will be temporarily canceled so those vehicles can be used for the ferry shuttles.

RALLY SUNDAY
William Owens, the Democratic candidate for the 23rd Congressional District seat, will be at Frenchman's Restaurant in Crown Point at 11 a.m. today to talk to people and answer questions outside the restaurant about the bridge.

In addition, the Communities of Faith group is inviting people to go to either side of the Champlain Bridge at 3 p.m. Sunday to show support for everyone impacted by the closure.

E-mail Lohr McKinstry at: lmckinstry@pressrepublican.com