One year after a nearly $20 million appropriation was approved

One year after a nearly $20 million appropriation was approved for major upgrades to the Cannon Mountain Aerial Tramway in Franconia Notch State Park, the actual cost for the job has come in much higher. And because some immediate repairs are needed, a state senator who serves on the Cannon Mountain Advisory Commission said on Tuesday that the possibility of shutting down the tramway for the summer of 2024 was floated but is still far from certain. “The appropriation was for $18 million,” said state Sen. Carrie Gendreau, R-Littleton, who serves on the commission and who in 2023 sponsored the appropriation bill. “We had our Cannon Mountain meeting this past Friday, and we’re told that the [sole bid] came in at $33 million, so there’s no way.” In 2023, to replace the current 44-year-old tram, Gendreau sponsored a bill seeking $25 million in the state capital budget. The Senate Finance Committee reduced that amount to $18 million.