Route 7 Bridge Weathers Flooding

by Bea Peterson
A picture taken on Wednesday evening, July 29, of the work at the Route 7 bridge over the Hoosic River showed the flow of water safely behind the cement barriers. “By Thursday night those barriers were completely submerged,” said NYS DOT Engineer-In-Charge David Brown. The River reached far up the banks on either side. Fortunately, he said, they had moved all of the equipment

The cement barricades that held water back on Wednesday two weeks ago were submerged by Thursday and are still underwater. Since then a steel barrier has been put in place to keep the River from invading the area where drilling for the piers is underway. Some of them, with wire frames atop them are already in place. (Bea Peterson photo)

up out of the way. Even so, some pieces had to be pulled from water and mud. The River did carry a couple of crane mats away. The flooding set the crew back a couple of days, Brown said. “We made the time up by working over one weekend.” He said it depends on the weather as to what will be completed by December. He is hopeful that before winter the beams will be on. Drilling the piers will be going on for the next six to seven weeks.

The first set of piers for the new Route 7 bridge are ready to go. Work on the second and third set is underway. During the recent flooding the piers were underwater.(Bea Peterson photo)

The cement barricades that held water back on Wednesday two weeks ago were submerged by Thursday and are still underwater. Since then a steel barrier has been put in place to keep the River from invading the area where drilling for the piers is underway. (Bea Peterson photo)

Looking down onto the drilling work of the Route 7 bridge. (Bea Peterson photo)