Road Work | Oct. 20-24
Stowe Street bridge project nears completion
October 18, 2025 | By Lisa ScagliottiOct. 20: This post was updated with new information from VTrans about the Stowe Street bridge paving and final steps.
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.
Motorists are reminded to drive with caution through work zones and to follow posted speed limits. Speeding fines are doubled in work areas.
Final stretch for Stowe Street bridge work
The top layer of asphalt was laid down on Friday. Markers indicate where lines will be painted, including a turning lane onto Rt. 100 northbound. Photo by Gordon Miller
Work on the Stowe Street bridge pushed through last week with Friday’s paving adding a major snarl into the already heavy foliage season weekend traffic. The afternoon commute saw traffic on Route 100, the Interstate 89 off-ramps, and the Main Street corridor at a standstill for several hours.
The Harwood Unified Union School District sent out messages to reassure parents that students were en route home, albeit much later than their usual arrival times. Superintendent Mike Leichliter reported that buses completed their drop-offs by 5:45 p.m.
Waterbury Roundabout received multiple messages about the traffic conditions.
On Monday, Agency of Transportation Resident Engineer for the project Phil Harrington explained that the contractor had intended to pave on Thursday, but that was pushed to Friday due to rain earlier in the week and more rain ahead this week. “With the rain in the forecast for most of this week, Friday has the best weather conditions to ensure quality paving,” Harrington said.
The contractor’s restrictions were also relaxed somewhat given the circumstances. “Last month, AOT had issued a written order directing the contractor to be off the road by 3 p.m., but on Friday, our project leads made the decision to let them stay on the road a little longer to finish paving,” Harrington explained. “This was to ensure the best quality paving results for the town, rather than create excess cold joints in the pavement.”
The crew wrapped up by 4 p.m., but it took considerable time for the traffic snarls to clear up. “What causes extra delays for the intersection is drivers using Lincoln Street and Stowe Street as bypasses,” Harrington said, explaining how juggling one-lane traffic on the bridge causes a domino effect of delays on the streets.
“The good news is that the paving work has been completed. The only remaining work is line striping, which is scheduled for Tuesday (tomorrow),” he noted.
An installed stamped concrete truck apron is kept under blankets to keep it warm during the curing period last week. VTrans photo
Park & Ride reopens Monday
On Monday, Oct. 20, the state Park & Ride lot on Lincoln Street will reopen. Bus service by GMT and RCT will continue using their temporary bus stops until Monday, Oct. 27. At that time, they both will resume their regular service at the Lincoln Street Park & Ride bus stop.
Looking ahead this week, contractors will install the final line striping and pavement markings on and near the new bridge.
Monday-Friday, Oct. 20-24:
Motorists should expect alternating one-way traffic on Stowe Street and Lincoln Street and shoulder closures on Vermont Route 100 northbound between 8:30 a.m. and 3 p.m. There likely will be delays along Rt. 100 in the vicinity of the Stowe Street intersection.
Flaggers will be in place to assist motorists through the work zone.
A final step in the project process before completion is to fine-tune the traffic signal at the bridge intersection with Route 100. Harrington said it was reprogrammed for the turning lane on Friday.
“Some of the vehicle detection zones and ‘smart’ features had to be turned off during construction to not inadvertently detect the construction equipment,” he explained. “With final paving complete, all lanes will have the detection zones and signal timing reset to the updated sequence. Once final paving markings are complete later this week, we will again readjust and fine-tune the detection zones as needed.”
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.
In Bolton
Road Closure | Oct. 20-Nov. 18: Road repairs and slope stabilization work will require a section of Duxbury Road to be closed to all traffic starting on Monday, Oct. 20, according to town officials. The section affected is between the Long Trail footbridge and Honey Hollow Road. Travelers who use the road should use Rt. 2 for access between Bolton and Waterbury during this time. The closure is expected to last until Nov. 18.
“We apologize for the short notice period as we are working against limited material access as winter approaches. If we are able to open the portion sooner than Nov. 18, an update will be posted,” the announcement states.
In Warren
Lincoln Gap road in Warren is now closed for the season. Vehicles will not be permitted to travel the stretch until spring. For more information, contact the town office at 802-496-2709.
Interstate 89: Waterbury-Montpelier southbound
This project involves removing the existing surface pavement and paving two separate new courses of asphalt. This is a two-year, 10.5-mile resurfacing project to rebuild both travel lanes.
Workers continue to install new guardrails along I-89 southbound between Waterbury and Montpelier. VTrans photo
Motorists should continue to expect delays, especially during the hours listed below, 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.
Crews continue to install new guardrails through the project zone. General project cleanup is ongoing as winter approaches. Work will resume on this project next spring. Its targeted completion is mid-August 2026.
Monday-Friday, Oct. 20-24, from 5:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.:
Continue guardrail installation.
Project clean-up work for winter shutdown
Anyone interested in receiving VTrans email updates on the project may sign up at this link online.