The bridge that spanned the southern end of Lake Champlain between Vermont and New York served as a critical transportation link for the region; many people who live on one side of the lake work on the other. Built in 1929, the bridge was razed in 2009 after it was found to be on the verge of collapse. Drivers were greatly inconvenienced as commutes that once took 40 minutes grew to two hours with 100-mile detours around the lake.