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ADDISON — The gaping maw in the middle of the new Lake Champlain Bridge will be there for at least one more day.

Installation of the bridge’s arch was postponed from today to Friday, based on the weather forecast, Sue Minter, deputy secretary of the Vermont Agency of Transportation, said Wednesday afternoon.

When conditions are right, the arch will be floated two miles up the lake from where it was constructed to the bridge site. The move requires winds of less than 10 mph, officials said.

Today’s forecast predicted winds of 20 mph or higher, plus thunderstorms.

Officials plan to move the arch Friday, when the forecast is for calmer winds and clear skies. Floating the arch and lifting it into place is expected to take all day.

The new bridge is under construction between Addison and Crown Point, N.Y., replacing a 1929 bridge that was found to be structurally deficient and was demolished in 2009.

Some marine and vehicle traffic restrictions will be in place as the arch is moved into place, officials said.

The ferry connecting New York State to Vermont will continue running during the work, officials said, but they warned that there could be higher-than-normal traffic with observers trying to watch the arch work.

For more information, visit www.nysdot.gov/lakechamplainbridge.

Article source: http://feeds.stateline.org/~r/StatelineorgRss-Transportation/~3/zzUZUKuLJ6U/Champlain-Bridge-arch-expected-lifted-Friday-