Road Work | Aug. 18-22
August 18, 2025 | By Lisa ScagliottiUPDATE 1 p.m. Aug. 18: Work on the traffic signal at Blush Hill Road/Vt. Rt. 100 by the Stowe Street bridge project is starting TODAY. It will mean turning OFF the signal for periods, during which a uniformed traffic officer and flaggers will control traffic through the intersection.
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.
Stowe Street bridge
The concrete bridge deck is in place for the new Stowe Street bridge. Vermont Agency of Transportation photo
Lincoln Street remains closed to vehicle traffic this week with project officials saying their goal is to reopen the street by this Friday, Aug. 22. Pedestrians and cyclists still have access during this time.
The street closure allows construction crews to use the street as work progresses. A signed detour directs traffic to Perry Hill Road, Kneeland Flats Road, and Guptil Road to reach Route 100.
Near the project site, the northbound shoulder on Vermont Route 100 will remain closed to traffic until the project is complete. Motorists should anticipate delays in this stretch given the construction activity.
The project this week (Aug. 18-22) will involve:
Daytime work from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. Construction will be underway on Lincoln Street and Stowe Street as crews install stormwater infrastructure and utilities.
On the bridge, crews will be installing the concrete-and-steel rail.
Paving is tentatively scheduled for this Friday, Aug. 22, weather permitting.
No night work is scheduled for this week. However, the contractor is permitted to add night work should it be needed.
The new bridge opening date is scheduled for Tuesday, Aug. 26. Project officials remind the public that all dates in the schedule for work and 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 week
This section may be updated with more projects early in the week.
Here are some local road projects happening in Waterbury this week from Public Works Director Bill Woodruff:
Loomis Hill bridge: Work begins today (Monday) on a two-week maintenance project on the bridge over the Thatcher Brook near Loomis Highlands. A temporary traffic signal will be added to direct alternating one-lane traffic during daytime work hours. It will not be used overnight.
Bidwell Lane: On Wednesday, paving is scheduled to begin (weather permitting) for Bidwell Lane and the parking areas along that side street downtown. This is expected to be a 2-3 day project. Parking will not be available while this work is underway.
Painting: Crosswalks and road striping will be done this week along Union, Railroad and Stowe streets. Flaggers will be on site to direct traffic where work is taking place.
Interstate 89: Waterbury-Montpelier southbound
This project involves removing the existing surface pavement and paving two separate new courses of asphalt.
Motorists should continue to expect significant delays, especially during peak travel hours, due to multiple southbound lane closures between Exit 10 Waterbury/Stowe and Exit 8 Montpelier. The speed limit is lowered to 55 mph and fines are doubled in the project zone.
As of last week, crews have completed the 5”-deep milling process to remove old asphalt to the bridge just north of Exit 8/Montpelier.
The southbound passing lane between Mile Marker 56.5 and 53.5 will be completely closed to motorists until Wednesday, Aug. 20. On Thursday and Friday this week, it will be closed during working hours only.
Motorists should expect to be traveling on uneven lanes and milled surfaces.
Early-morning paving along I-89 southbound between Waterbury and Montpelier. Photo by Gordon Miller
Work scheduled for this week, Aug. 18-22, between 5:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. daily is:
Weather permitting, continue installing the leveling and intermediate (first) course of pavement to MM 53.55.
Weather permitting, installation of temporary pavement markings.
Continue shoulder 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 mostly complete. No work is anticipated in this project zone this week as contractors will be working elsewhere. Traffic on U.S. 2 and Interstate 89 will not be affected.