Road Work | Aug. 11-15
Lincoln Street closes Monday, Aug. 11
August 8, 2025 | By Lisa ScagliottiWeekly 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.
Stowe Street bridge: Lincoln Street closes Monday, Aug. 11
The 450-ton capacity crane lifts a section of the precast bridge frame into position. Each frame weighs nearly 90,000 pounds and was fabricated by Fort Miller Precast, in Fort Miller, NY. Vermont Agency of Transportation photo
Starting at 6:30 a.m. on Monday, Aug. 11, Lincoln Street will be closed at Stowe Street due to ongoing construction on the Stowe Street bridge. The closure is planned as the project has reached the stage where construction crews need to use the street as work progresses.
Although the contractor is authorized to close Lincoln Street for 21 days, project officials say they are aiming to reopen the street after just 12 days, on Aug. 22. A signed detour will direct traffic to Perry Hill Road, Kneeland Flats Road, and Guptil Road to reach Route 100. Pedestrians will still have access to Lincoln Street and Stowe Street during this closure.
The project this week (Aug. 11-15) also will involve:
Night work: In addition to daytime work between 6 a.m. and 6 p.m., night construction activity, from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. is planned for the next two weeks from Sunday through Thursday.
Periodic closures of the northbound shoulder along Vermont Route 100 during daytime hours.
As precast concrete bridge sections continue to arrive, crews will continue assembling and setting the bridge frame. Afterward, a membrane will be installed, and crews will backfill around the new structure.
The new bridge opening date is now scheduled for Tuesday, Aug. 26. Project officials remind the public that all dates for roadway reopenings are subject to change.
The Stowe Street bridge construction is a $4.34 million Vermont Agency of Transportation project replacing the two-lane bridge built in 1928 over the Thatcher Brook near the intersection of Stowe Street, Vermont Route 100 and Blush Hill Road. The new bridge will be wider with three lanes, shoulders and a sidewalk, including a dedicated turning lane for traffic headed north from Street onto Rt. 100.
Work began in early June with demolition starting after the bridge was closed on June 19 for what was to be a 60-day closure.
This VTrans map shows the detour for motorists during the Lincoln Street closure, Aug. 11-22. Click to enlarge.
Once the new bridge and Lincoln Street are reopened, motorists can expect to encounter alternating one-way traffic controlled by flaggers for the next phase, transportation officials said. Those specific dates will be shared closer to when that will take place.
Also, after the bridge is open but prior to the project being completed, some modifications will be needed for the traffic signal at the intersection. Project officials say they anticipate there will be several days when the traffic signal will be turned off and a uniformed traffic officer and flaggers will be controlling the intersection traffic flow. Those delays will be planned in periods of under 10 minutes at a time, they said. Specific dates for the intersection work will be noted in the project’s weekly updates closer to when that work takes place, they said.
Bridge-project reminders:
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).
Sign up for email updates from VTrans on the project using this online form.
Also in Waterbury
This section may be updated with more projects early in the week.
Maple Street: A streambank stabilization project on upper Maple Street in Waterbury Center should be winding down this week. A temporary traffic signal is in place to regulate alternating one-lane traffic in the work area, which is between the intersections with Guild Hill Road and Mountain View Drive. The work along the Thatcher Brook is addressing damage from last summer’s flooding.
Interstate 89: Waterbury-Montpelier southbound
Motorists should continue to expect significant delays due to multiple southbound lane closures between Exit 10 Waterbury/Stowe and Exit 8 Montpelier.
The southbound passing lane between Mile Markers 63.5 and 60.5 will be closed during working hours only.
The southbound travel lane between Mile Markers 56.0 and 53.0 will be closed to motorists 24/7.
Motorists should expect to be traveling on uneven lanes and milled surfaces.
Paving along I-89 southbound between Waterbury and Montpelier. VTrans photo
Work scheduled for this week, Aug. 11-15, between 5:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. daily is:
Continue the 5"-deep milling of the travel lane and breakdown shoulder.
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 and installing new guardrails.
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
Work on the new bridge along U.S. Route 2 in Richmond, which crosses over Interstate 89, is nearly complete. No work is anticipated in this work zone this week as contractors will be working elsewhere. Traffic on U.S. 2 and Interstate 89 will not be affected.