Stowe Street bridge: Lincoln Street closure begins Aug. 11
July 28, 2025 | By Lisa Scagliotti Project managers with the Stowe Street bridge replacement project in Waterbury say they plan to close Lincoln Street on Monday, Aug. 11, for what they hope will last just two weeks rather than three.
The closure of the side street along the project work zone will start at 6:30 a.m. on Aug. 11, but the project announcement also says that the contractor will try to shorten its duration from the proposed 21 days to just two weeks.
The view from Blush Hill Road of the bridge construction site across Rt. 100 at Stowe Street. Photo by Lisa Scagliotti
“While the Lincoln Street closure is planned for 21 days, the contractor is aiming to have Lincoln Street reopen after a 14-day closure, on Friday, August 22,” the announcement states, adding the caveat though that, “All dates are subject to change.”
Closing Lincoln Street at the Stowe Street intersection will mean that motorists who usually use Lincoln Street will have a long detour to get to and from downtown Waterbury for a while. The closure will mean taking Perry Hill Road, Kneeland Flats Road, and Gupil Road to reach Vermont 100 to eventually get to and from downtown Waterbury.
The closure will only impact vehicle traffic, however. The project announcement notes that pedestrians will still be able to walk along Stowe and Lincoln streets when the roadway is closed.
The Stowe Street bridge construction is a $4.34 million Vermont Agency of Transportation project to replace what was nearly a century-old bridge over the Thatcher Brook near the intersection of Stowe Street, Vermont Route 100 and Blush Hill Road. Built in 1928, the concrete bridge was just two lanes wide and in poor condition. The new structure being built now will be three lanes wide with shoulders and a sidewalk. One lane will be dedicated to traffic turning right from Stowe Street onto Rt. 100 to travel north.
Stowe Street is closed to through traffic during bridge construction. Photo by Lisa Scagliotti
Work began in early June with the removal of a municipal wastewater line that was previously attached to the old bridge before demolition began. A temporary line was installed upstream from the project site and a permanent line will be added to the underside of the new bridge deck once it’s built.
Demolition began in mid-June with a scheduled 60-day Stowe Street closure that started on June 19. That is anticipated to run through Aug. 17, as noted on signs on both sides of the work zone.
Project officials did not comment on Monday when asked about the expected bridge reopening date, given that the Lincoln Street closure is now anticipated to last until Aug. 22 or later.
The Park and Ride lot closure sign anticipates construction crews using the site into October. Photo by Lisa Scagliotti
The Lincoln Street closure is needed for crews to use the side street to maneuver and handle pre-constructed sections of the bridge as it is being assembled.
The project already is using nearby available space at the Lincoln Street Park and Ride lot, which has been closed to motorists during the construction. It’s being used for project materials, equipment and vehicles.
A temporary Park and Ride lot is 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 market on Rt. 100.
In addition, a shuttle service around the bridge closure is available for local residents accustomed to having pedestrian access to Rt. 100. That’s being managed by Waterbury town staff. To learn more or schedule a shuttle ride, contact Waterbury Town Manager Tom Leitz at 802-244-4300 or tleitz@waterburyvt.com.
Unexpected factors
On Monday, a project spokeswoman did relay some details from project managers about construction progress to date. Work is moving along somewhat slower than originally expected, although it’s unclear how far off-schedule the project is.
“The construction schedule, including closure and reopening dates, is subject to change due to many contributing factors. To date, construction has been impacted by bedrock being deeper than expected. The bedrock in some spots was 10 feet below the waterline. This made installation of the cofferdam and dewatering challenging, and delayed the pouring of the sub-footing concrete.”
Another issue that’s come up since work began is the proximity of a 12-inch municipal water line downstream from the bridge site. The line runs under the Thatcher Brook and connects with a reservoir in the water system on Blush Hill near the end of Blackberry Lane, according to Waterbury Public Works Director Bill Woodruff. The footprint for the new bridge is “in conflict” with the water line, Woodruff explained. “Engineers have proposed several options to deal with this, and we have been reviewing those internally. The most preferred option will most likely not add time to the closure, but that hasn’t been decided yet.”
Although the original project schedule just called for daytime work, the contract with VTrans allows the contractor to add weekend and/or night shifts as needed, the spokeswoman noted, adding, “The public and impacted residents will be notified if nightwork is necessary.”
Prior to the start of the project, Vermont Agency of Transportation officials said that their goal was to conduct most of the bridge construction that required road closures during summer vacation for local schools. Harwood Unified Union School District schools ended the school year on June 18; the first day of classes for the new school year is scheduled for Wednesday, Aug. 27.
Project officials say they “appreciate the community’s flexibility” during construction, and they are working to provide timely updates. Local residents and travelers should refer to weekly updates for the most current information, the spokeswoman said. Those are published each week on the Waterbury Roundabout Road Work page. Anyone wishing to be placed on the state’s contact list to receive email updates on the project directly may sign up using this online form.