Lincoln, NH, September 28, 2011: The damaged Loon Mountain Resort
bridge, which provides access to the Resort from Route 112/The Kancamagus
Highway, is being replaced by a temporary, two-lane vehicular bridge with a
sidewalk, until the main bridge can be repaired next spring. This will allow
normal winter operations to proceed as usual. In the meantime, the Resort remains
open for fall events and activities, and alternate vehicular access is
available via the South Peak Bridge, located two miles to the west in the town
of Lincoln.
Construction of the temporary
bridge is being handled by the NH Department of Transportation (NH DOT) and is
now underway. The bridge is expected to be
in place and open by mid-November. Repair work on the main bridge is slated to
begin next spring, after the ski season ends, and will be conducted by an
independent third-party contractor to be hired by the Town of Lincoln. The
timeline for repair work and the main bridge reopening is not yet available.
Tropical Storm Irene dumped up to
10” of rain over the area on August 28, causing the East Branch of the
Pemigewasset River to flood, undermining the bridge abutments and rendering Route 112/The Kancamagus Highway impassable east
of the Resort. NH DOT closed the bridge on August 28 and then a portion
of the bridge collapsed on August 31. A temporary pedestrian bridge was
put in place for the 36th Annual New Hampshire Highland Games, which
took place on September 16-18, and Route 112/The Kancamagus Highway was opened
a week ahead of schedule on September 10, in plenty of time for the important
foliage season.
“We would like to thank Governor
Lynch, who recognizes the importance of tourism and the ski industry to the
State’s economy, and who made a quick resolution possible in time for the
Highland Games and the important upcoming winter ski season, said Rick Kelley,
Loon Mountain Resort’s president and general manager. We would also like to
thank NH DOT, the Town of Lincoln and all the utility companies for their many
hours of work on an aggressive schedule to reopen this important access to Loon
Mountain.”
Loon’s Gondola Skyride is open
daily through October 16 and Segway Tours are available daily through October
10. The Loon Mountain Adventure Center
and Riding Stable are open on weekends through October 10. Loon hosts the popular Oktoberfest on October
8-9, followed by the new Monster Mud Run mountain obstacle challenge and
Halloween Monster Bash on October 29. New England Passes are on sale at
pre-season prices through October 10.
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