News & Information

Once again, this has been a very busy week on the Main Street Sidewalk Replacement Project! Several of the new street lights on the northern end of the project are installed, functional, and the old ones next to them removed. They look great and work into the viewscape quite nicely. By the end of the day today, we will be finished removing sidewalk and the remainder of the curbing (from High Street to the south end of the project) will be installed. The concrete crew will continue to work their way south with the new sidewalks and we anticipate that operation to be complete by next Friday if the beautiful weather holds out for us.

The quantity and quality of water in our region has direct impacts on all of us. Flooding causes a huge financial burden on municipalities, businesses, and individuals while threatening public safety. Droughts lead to crop failures, inadequate domestic water supplies, and stressed ecosystems. Water quality degradation diminishes ecosystem health, domestic water supplies, and recreational opportunities. New Vermont Clean Water Act legislation reinforces the need for all of us to treat water as a valuable resource.

Green Infrastructure (GI) is a suite of design tools and structural techniques that address all of these water issues by employing strategies that help to maintain natural hydrologic processes. GI presents significant opportunities for Vermont municipalities, businesses and individuals to reduce the impacts of stormwater on budgets and assets while protecting vital natural resources. As we adapt to the impacts of climate change, it is essential that we seek strategies to protect life, property, and our region’s natural resources.

Fortunately this week has presented us with perfect weather for construction! All the crews are moving full steam ahead and as you may have noticed, the majority of the sidewalks from High Street to Walnut Street are poured and opened!

We were able to get the small ditch on the street side of the new curbing paved earlier this week that will make parking and walking much easier on that portion of the project. The crew installing the brick strip is also moving right along (the picture above is an example of their work in the High Street bump out). We’ve gotten many questions about the purpose of the brick strip. Not only is it a decorative feature that ties together with our historic brick structures on Main Street, but it will allow us access to the underground electrical conduits in the future.

To reduce congestion on I-91, both Exit 3 on ramps will be closed on Sunday, September 27 from 11:00 am to 6:00 pm. I-91 will remain open. Sunday closures will continue through October to manage leaf-peeping traffic.

I-91

Please see above re Sunday closures of Exit 3 on ramps.

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.

I-91

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

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.

Although we had a short work week, extremely hot temperatures, and even some rain, we made great progress on the new sidewalks! We were able to pour several new sections of sidewalks between High Street and Harris Place and poured the new driveway access between Key Bank and Centre Congregational Church. You might be asking yourself why the new sidewalks are so narrow. This project includes a brick strip in between the granite curbing and the new sidewalk that is not only a decorative element but will also allow easy access to the underground conduits that are being installed.

The PCL+FIGG Team will conduct the next on-site “trail talk” for the Public on Saturday, September 12, 2015, to discuss the progress of the bridge project. The talk will originate at the West River Trail near the marina. The trail talk will be led by Caleb Linn, Project Manager for PCL (lead contractor) and Garrett Hoffman, Design Manager for FIGG (bridge designer).

Interested participants should meet the PCL+FIGG Team at the West River Trail trailhead on Saturday, September 12, 2015, at 8 a.m. and the talk will begin at 8:15 a.m. Participants will walk the trail to the I-91 bridge site, so please wear appropriate clothing and footwear.