I-91
On Sunday, July 5, both the Northbound and Southbound Exit 3 On-Ramps will be closed from 11:00 AM to 6:00 PM to reduce congestion on I-91 Southbound caused by merging traffic. Because of highway logistics, we need to close both northbound and southbound on-ramps. Local southbound traffic will be rerouted to Route 5 south to Exit 1, and local northbound traffic will be rerouted on Route 5 north to Exit 4. Sheriff officers will assist in directing traffic.
On Sunday, July 12, the Southbound lane of I-91 between Exits 3 and 2 and the Exit 3 On-Ramps will be closed to all vehicles from 5:00 AM to 9:00 AM to make it possible to conduct a routine bridge inspection. This time period was selected because it is the period of lowest traffic volume during the daylight hours needed to conduct the inspection. Southbound traffic will be routed to Exit 1, and Northbound traffic attempting to use the Exit 3 on ramp will be routed north on Route 5 to Exit 4. Officers will be on hand to control traffic. I-91 Northbound will remain open.
Northbound I-91 traffic has been relocated onto the southbound bridge. Traffic will remain reduced to one lane in each direction on I-91 until completion of the new bridge. The new bridge will be 104’ wide and is designed to carry all four lanes of traffic –two northbound and two southbound.
Route 30
A short section of VT Route 30 (where it crosses beneath I-91 in Brattleboro) will be closed for at most 8 hours from (3:00 AM – 11:00 AM) and for one day only, sometime between Wednesday July 8 and Saturday July 11. Because this work is weather dependent, the closure date will be determined based on weather forecasts. The team will give stakeholders at least 48 hours advance notice of the closure date. The closure is planned so that the project team can erect “traveler form” equipment that will be used to construct the new I-91 bridge in Brattleboro. Traveler forms are forms used to construct segmental cast-in-place concrete bridges.
Night work adjacent to Route 30 will continue this week, but will not affect traffic.
The speed limit on Route 30 near the work zone has been reduced to 40 mph. Project-related truck activity on Route 30 will continue. Route 30 will be reduced to a single lane intermittently both day and night, with flaggers regulating traffic within the work zone.
Upper Dummerston Road
The project will not affect traffic on Upper Dummerston Road.
West River Trail
The West River Trail is now open. There are intersections between construction access and the trail path, and users should exercise extreme caution at these intersections. As an additional safety precaution, users of the West River Trail are reminded to keep pets on a leash in this area.
West River
The northbound bridge over the West River has been removed. No project-related impacts to recreational boaters are anticipated.
Text Alert System
A text alert system for the Brattleboro Bridge Replacement Project makes it possible to receive text notifications of:
• Interstate ramp closings,
• Closings of I-91,
• Closings of VT Route 30 (but not single lane closings of Rt 30), and
• Any other situations regarding time sensitive project-related traffic issues.
People can sign up for this service by texting 313131 with the keyword “I91Brat”, or by using the signup widget on the project website www.i91brattleborobridge.com.
Project Progress
· The new Bridge 9 Pier 1 and Pier 2 foundations and arched columns are complete.
· The Pier Table at Pier 1 is complete and segment construction is beginning and will continue through the summer and fall.
· The new roadway alignment construction began last month. This work will continue during the 2015 and 2016 non-winter seasons.
· Abutment work for the new Bridge 8 over Upper Dummerston Road has begun and will continue through the summer.
Trail Talks
We will continue to hold monthly trail talks for the community. The next Trail Talk will be held on July 11th.
Safety
Please focus on safety when driving through the construction work zone and remember that it is now against the law for drivers to use a hand-held cell phone.
Cindy Cook
Principal, Adamant Accord, Inc.
Past Vice President, Association for Conflict Resolution
_ PO Box 2
Adamant, VT 05640
ccook@adamantaccord.com
www.adamantaccord.com
Office: 802-223-1330
Cell: 802-272-2829
Fax: 802-229-6836
