[an error occurred while processing this directive] Visits since September 27, 2008!

July 19, 2008 marked the 28TH anniversary of the death of fourteen year old Teddy Borbeau who was killed when he struck this bridge while riding in a boat. We understand that terms as part of a settlement in the resulting trial to rectify the danger of this bridge have never been implemented by the owner or his agents. The bridge is as dangerous today as it was in 1980 with no warnings or danger markings of any kind. The New York Department of Environmental Conservation maintains that the owner has no responsibility, in this regard for the safety of the public traveling on this "Scenic and Recreational" classified and publicly owned river.
The bridge connects Stetson Road in Tupper Lake to one of the most sought after pieces of property by nature enthusiasts and New York State. Follensby Park is almost totally undisturbed by man, site of the one thousand acre Follensby Pond, until September 17, 2008 possibly the largest privately owned lake in the United States and site of the 1858 Philosophers Camp where Ralph Waldo Emerson, William James Stillman, James Russell Lowell, Louis Agassiz, Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr., and others spent the Summer.
We look forward to working with the new owners: The Nature Conservancy, and the new state administration: Governor David Patterson, DEC Director Alexander Peter Grannis and Region 5 Director Betsy Lowe on this situation.

On September 17, 2008 it was announced that the 14,672 Follensby Park was purchased from Mr. John McCormick by the Nature Conservancy. The Nature Conservancy asks that people be patient and stay off the property as the disposition of the transition plays out. Hopefully within a couple of years the property will be purchased by New York State. We hope that the Nature Conservency will be compelled to remove or raise the bridge.

LeBoeuf Bridge, Take Your Raquette River Back

Click Here to see what others have written concerning this bridge.

If you're familiar with this issue and would just like to register your opinion then skip directly to THE BALLOT.

LeBoeuf Bridge, known to some as Follensby Bridge, near Tupper Lake has spanned the Raquette River for more than 100 years. Until very recently, it was privately owned, and connected one of the owners parcels of twenty or so acres to another of the owners parcels of fourteen thousand acres across the river where logging has been going on continuously for decades. There is alternate access to the large parcel through Oval Wood Dish property off Lake Simond Pond Road but this bridge provided the most convenient access to the owner being directly adjacent to the village of Tupper Lake and state highways. The bridge is used to transport logs out from the larger parcel. The bridge served the economic benefit of one person. While it has always been a deterrent to river navigation, most believe that it became more so when it was rebuilt sometime during the past fifty or so years. For most of the year the clearance under the bridge barely even allows canoes, kayaks and the like to pass freely. During spring runoff and the other frequent high water periods (see photos) the bridge effectively cuts off eighteen miles of New York State Recreational and Scenic River to people approaching the bridge from the downstream side and the entire Tupper Lake water system to those approaching the bridge from the upstream side. It virtually isolates the waters of Tupper Lake from the Natural History Museum, the Crusher, River Road and points upstream to Raquette Falls.

Here's a map showing the Raquette River System between Raquette Falls and Setting Pole Dam. The bridge is adjacent to the proposed Michael Foxman and Preserve Associates Big Tupper Club and Resort and divides this system into two parts!

Here's how the bridge has looked since at least 1978! This water level is abnormally high but this is a recent photo and depicts the physical structure accurately.

Here's how the bridge looked on July 8, 2006. Do you think this might be dangerous? Shouldn't the owner keep it clear?

Here's one version of the bridge before it was rebuilt in 1978!

Here's an older version of the bridge. We don't know what years this particular bridge was in service. The point of the photo is that the owner has always claimed that the current bridge is no lower than any of the previous bridges. Many of us remember the bridge that was there during the late 1960's as being much higher than the current bridge.

While the recently rebuilt New York State boat launch on Big Tupper Lake provides access to anyone who may want to board a canoe, kayak or any other watercraft, the bridge blocks access to eighteen miles of Recreational and Scenic River to these individuals for most of the year.
This bridge is a hazard to boaters. It is easy for a boat to get stuck underneath or damaged, contributing to the potential for personal injury.
On July 19, 1980, fourteen year old Teddy Borbeau was killed when he struck the bridge while properly seated in a boat passing underneath. There is evidence that the driver of the boat was careless but regardless the bridge leaves too little room for error.
If there is a medical emergency up river there is not much probability of a rapid response. There is no usable boat launch between the bridge and Raquette Falls save possibly River Road. The run down Crusher Boat Launch Site is almost useless.
Although open to interpretation, it appears clear that LeBoeuf Bridge is in violation of United States code:
TITLE 33 - NAVIGATION AND NAVIGABLE WATERS CHAPTER 11 - BRIDGES OVER NAVIGABLE WATERS SUBCHAPTER II - ALTERATION OF BRIDGES.

Sec. 512. Obstruction of navigation

No bridge shall at any time unreasonably obstruct the free navigation of any navigable waters of the United States.

Several businesses and organizations have endorsed our survey and were previously listed on this page. Most of these businesses have been listed here for several months. This past Fall we were notified by two of these organizations that their members were being intimidated and they asked that their names be removed until they had time to discuss the issue with their members. The intimidation came in the form of a notice posted on the Follensby Park property (to Follensby Park tenants) that members of the Tupper Lake Rescue Squad Dive Team and the Tupper Lake Rod and Gun Club members are no longer allowed to use LeBoeuf Bridge, or the road, to access their hunting camp Lease. We immediately removed their names and, as a courtesy to others, removed the entire list until further notice.
This survey is here to provide an opportunity to anyone interested in voicing their opinion on LeBoeuf Bridge. We will re-list, with their permission, any and all businesses who endorse this survey and refuse to be intimidated.
If anyone would care to offer a legal opinion on this matter, we welcome your input..
If you would like to have your organization listed here as a supporter of this effort, please email us here.

Click Here to print out our Bridge Be Gone Wanted Poster to display in your window.
We have launched a classic paper petition drive. If you would like to help by carrying a petition or keep one in your place of business where the public can get to it then Please Email Us Here at info@BridgeBeGone.Org or call 1-518-572-6092 or 1-518-359-3340.

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