SARANAC — With the Cold Brook Bridge unsafe and shut down, it’s a 25-minute drive from Jane and Michael Venne’s house to Route 3 via the detour that’s in place.

Normally, it’s a short hop of 3 miles to reach that main road.

And the detour, they say, is a bone-jarring ride on True Brook Road.

Jane has issues with her neck, and after making a trip, she said, “I couldn’t even turn my neck — it’s that rough.”

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Indefinitely

The small bridge over Cold Brook was inspected Aug. 8 by the State Department of Transportation, who flagged it for structural deficiencies and notified Clinton County.

It was closed Aug. 9.

“The bridge was posted for an 18-ton weight limit and NYSDOT could not recommend keeping the bridge open at a lower weight limit due to the deficiencies found,” Clinton County Highway Department Deputy Highway Superintendent Karl T. Weiss said.

“The county will be meeting with our design consultant to make a determination on the repair or replacement of the bridge and the cost benefit of each.

“At this time the bridge will be closed indefinitely.”

Another bridge out

The bridge closure comes at an especially inconvenient time, for while a shorter detour could have utilized a stretch of Standish Road, the county is replacing a large box culvert there, between Cold Brook Road and Square Dashnaw Road.

So there’s no access to what otherwise would make the trip to Route 3 only 5 or 6 miles in length for the Vennes and their neighbors.

She estimated about 18 homes in her neighborhood and a few more on nearby Gokey Road.

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Long ride home

The long detour is an issue even without the poor road surface, Jane said.

One neighbor has to travel to Plattsburgh three times a week for dialysis, she said.

And the Vennes’ son, Morgan, who lives nearby, already has quite a drive to his job in Ray Brook, Jane noted.

“He puts in a full day, and he’s got a long ride home,” she said.

Morgan isn’t the only one faced with additional travel time back and forth, Jane added.

A lot of people had used Cold Brook Road as a shortcut to get from the Lyon Mountain and Malone areas to jobs in Saranac Lake, Ray Brook and that region.

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Bump, bump, bump

But more concerning, Jane said, is response time in the event of a fire or other emergency.

“We have a woman down here who is 105 years old,” she said.

“They couldn’t get her to CVPH (University of Vermont Health Network, Champlain Valley Physicians Hospital) without going on the True Brook Road. Can you imagine that? Bump, bump, bump.”

Jane didn’t laugh as she imagined what that ride would be like.

True Brook Road is so bad, she said, that when she did drive it, she had to stop at one point as another car approached.

“My side of the road wasn’t there,” she said, explaining the lack of pavement and rough, exposed ground.

Closest ambulance

According to Clinton County Dispatch, calls are being directed as usual, which means Saranac Volunteer Fire Department is the lead responder with simultaneous dispatch of Lyon Mountain’s department as mutual aid.

Whichever ambulance company is closest is sent where needed.

“Lyon Mountain would probably be faster,” Jane guessed.

Again, she noted, there’s that long trek on True Brook Road to delay response.

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Temporary span?

The Vennes contacted Sen. Betty Little’s office about the situation, expressing hope that a temporary span could be put across the brook to open up the roadway again.

They aren’t trying to blow things out of proportion or seem like they are complainers, Jane said.

“But we’ve got two bridges closed,” and, she added, “True Brook Road is our only escape route right now, and it’s in terrible shape.”

True Brook had been the official detour for the Standish Road project, but many chose to use Cold Brook Road instead, before it, too, was shut down.

“(The county) should have at least made (True Brook) OK (to drive on),” Jane said.

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At least six weeks

The Vennes have resorted to a solution of their own, with Michael leaving his truck parked on the far side of Cold Brook Bridge.

Then they drive from their house to the closer side.

They cross the bridge on foot, saving Jane’s neck the trauma of the True Brook detour.

Some have heard the Standish Road project won’t be complete until the end of the year, but Weiss said Friday he expects to see it done in six to eight weeks.

Six weeks would take it to the end of September; eight weeks would be about Oct. 12.

Barring any solution before then, those on the far side of Cold Brook will be able to use Standish Road then.

The Vennes hope the county comes up with a plan for their disabled bridge soon, what with having to have their newspaper delivered by mail a day late, UPS packages held in Plattsburgh and other inconveniences.

“It’s pretty quiet here right now,” Jane said.