Road Work: July 21-25
July 18, 2025 | By Lisa Scagliotti Weekly Road Work reports are assembled with information from the Vermont Agency of Transportation on projects in the region, the Waterbury Public Works Department, and other local highway departments for projects in Waterbury and neighboring communities as necessary.
The two major projects in and near Waterbury are the Stowe Street bridge replacement project and the Interstate 89 southbound resurfacing project. Weekly updates will contain the latest information on these projects.
Motorists are reminded to drive with caution through work zones and to follow posted speed limits. Speeding fines are doubled in work areas.
WATERBURY
Stowe Street bridge project
Work to replace the former Stowe Street bridge over the Thatcher Brook near Vermont Route 100 and Blush Hill Road continues. The 60-day road closure for the new bridge construction project runs into mid-August.
The latest steps in the bridge replacement project on Stowe Street involve prepping for and pouring concrete for the new bridge subfootings.
The crew forms the subfooting, which will be anchored into the bedrock. VTrans photo
On Saturday, July 19, crews will pour the concrete for subfooting #2 on the Vermont Route 100 side of the bridge. Throughout the week, crews will clean off the bedrock at abutment #1, on the Lincoln Street side of the bridge. Towards the end of the week, crews will form and pour the remaining subfooting.
Project officials say they anticipate that the 21-day closure of Lincoln Street will begin in about three weeks. That closure is now tentatively scheduled to begin on Monday, Aug. 11. They say that date is subject to change and the public will be notified at least two weeks before the closure. More information will be shared as that step approaches, they said.
Project officials have explained that the Lincoln Street closure is needed so that the roadway can be used for staging and logistics involving sections of the new bridge structure when they are delivered and being installed.
Motorists are asked to stay alert and not follow trucks while traveling through the work zone.
During this construction period, motorists may get to Stowe Street from Main Street, Union Street, Railroad Street and Lincoln Street.
The Lincoln Street Park and Ride lot is closed, with a temporary lot available downtown at the State Office Complex along Park Row at the end of Randall Street. Commuter buses also are using that lot, with the Rural Community Transit buses also stopping at Shaw’s on Rt. 100.
The town is providing shuttle service around the bridge closure for local residents who rely on it for pedestrian access to Vermont Route 100. Contact Town Manager Tom Leitz to arrange for that transportation (802-244-4300 or tleitz@waterburyvt.com).
Read more about this project in the Roundabout News section here. Anyone wishing to be placed on the state’s contact list for email updates on the project can sign up using this online form.
Local projects in Waterbury
Kneeland Flats Road: Final paving to patch the area of the culvert repair near the intersection with Guptil Road was delayed due to weather. That now is rescheduled to be done on Monday, according to Waterbury Public Works Director Bill Woodruff. He explained that the top layer of asphalt must be laid down with no moisture to make sure it adheres properly. The road will be open for one lane of traffic during the paving but motorists should expect delays.
Bidwell Lane: Work is underway in the parking lot area along Bidwell Lane downtown parking lot. It involves some changes to stormwater structures and possibly some repairs to curbing, Woodruff said. Looking ahead to next week, Bidwell Lane will be closed where it intersects with Stowe Street on Monday July 28. This will affect the parking lot between the Masonic building and Bridgeside Books/Stowe Street Cafe.
Interstate 89: Waterbury-Montpelier southbound
In preparation for new pavement, crews have been working to remove a five-inch depth of the existing surface pavement and paving two new separate layers. Temporary pavement markings have been installed on the affected work zone.
I-89 southbound paving continues in Middlesex. VTrans photo
This week between Monday and Friday, July 21-25, from 5:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. work will include:
Continuation of the 5"-deep milling of the passing lane.
Weather permitting, continue installing the leveling and intermediate course of pavement after the milling process.
Weather permitting, installation of temporary pavement markings.
Continue shoulder clean-up work.
Motorists should expect major delays during peak travel hours due to the southbound passing lane closures between mile markers 58 and 52—generally between Exit 9 (Middlesex) and Exit 8 (Montpelier). Motorists should also expect uneven lanes and a milled surface in the travel lane. The speed limit is reduced to 55 mph within the project limits and fines are doubled.
This is a two-year, 10.5-mile resurfacing project to rebuild both travel lanes. The project is anticipated to last through this construction season and next summer, with completion targeted by Aug. 15, 2026, according to the Vermont Agency of Transportation. Anyone interested in receiving VTrans email updates on the project may sign up at this link online.
Richmond: I-89 and U.S. Route 2
Slope restoration work in progress along U.S. 2 in Richmond near the new bridge construction. VTrans photo
Work on the new bridge along U.S. Route 2 in Richmond, which crosses over Interstate 89, is nearly complete.
Contractors will return to the project site this week to complete site clean-up work and punch list items that remain, such as slope restoration along the project site. Final inspections will also be done.
Project officials said that on U.S. Route 2 from Monday through Friday, 6:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., traffic control will be present, allowing for alternating one-way traffic with minimal interruptions.
Below on Interstate 89, between 6 a.m. and 3 p.m. this week, motorists will encounter lane closures northbound between mile markers 75.45 and 77, and on the southbound side between mile markers 77.29 and 75.71.