Stowe Street bridge project adds night work, adjusts reopening date
ALSO: Road Work Update for Aug. 4-8
UPDATED: August 5, 2025 | By Lisa ScagliottiNight work on the Stowe Street bridge construction project in Waterbury begins tonight at 6 p.m., according to a state Agency of Transportation announcement today.
Nighttime construction hours will run from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m., with daytime work picking up at 6 a.m. The announcement notes that there will be night work tonight (Tuesday), and Wednesday, with it resuming again on Monday.
Project officials explain that the contractor is required to mitigate noise during the nighttime hours from 7 p.m. until 6 a.m. “Crews will be actively monitoring noise using decimal readers,” they said.
The increased work schedule is beginning as the precast pieces for the bridge structure are arriving at the work site at the intersection of Stowe Street and Vermont Route 100. The project will involve 37 pieces, and they have begun to arrive today. As the pieces are delivered, the northbound shoulder along Rt. 100 will be periodically closed, project officials said.
Original post below.
Stowe Street bridge schedule adjusted & Aug. 4-8 Road Work
August 4, 2025 As a giant crane has been added to the Stowe Street bridge reconstruction site in Waterbury, state project officials have announced that delays will push back the bridge opening date to later this month.
A 450-ton crane has been added to the Stowe Street bridge construction site today. Photo by Jeanne Atchinson
In the Aug. 1 project communication, the Vermont Agency of Transportation announced that: “Due to construction delays, the reopening of the Stowe Street Town Bridge #36 is now set for Tuesday, August 26.”
The project schedule originally anticipated that the new bridge would be ready to reopen by Aug. 17, as indicated on signs near the work site.
The next phase will also involve closing the adjacent Lincoln Street to vehicle traffic starting at 6:30 a.m. on Monday, Aug. 11, project officials said. The project contract allows the contractor to close Lincoln Street for up to 21 days, but officials said they are aiming for that closure to last just two weeks, with Friday, Aug. 22, the target date to reopen Lincoln Street to traffic.
During that street closure, pedestrians will still have access to Lincoln Street and Stowe Street near the construction site, project managers said. A signed detour will direct vehicle traffic from Lincoln Street to Perry Hill Road, Kneeland Flats Road, and Guptil Road, to reach Rt. 100 north of the Stowe Street intersection.
The Lincoln Street closure is necessary to give the construction crew space to stage and maneuver the pre-constructed pieces that will be assembled to form the new bridge.
Starting today, crews were to begin setting the precast footings for the bridge with work on its precast frame starting on Wednesday, according to the project update.
“There is a total of 37 individual precast pieces that combine to form the structure, which crews will be assembling throughout the week and into next week,” the agency announcement explains.
The municipal water line is enclosed to remain adjacent to the base of the new bridge. Photo by Jeanne Atchinson
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.
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.
The project is running slightly behind schedule due to several issues that cropped up during construction so far. Bedrock in the Thatcher Brook turned out to be deeper than expected, which lengthened the early excavation phase.
In addition, a municipal water line buried under the brook that was expected to not impact the project turned out to be in close proximity to the new bridge footprint. The pipeline conflicted with the upstream wingwall of the structure, officials explained. “The solution was to step the subfooting up over the waterline and bridge so service will not need to be interrupted,” according to an agency spokesperson. The crew built a box-like structure around the line before proceeding with the bridge subfooting.
A separate municipal sewer line previously attached to the former bridge has been temporarily relocated upstream of the project site. The new bridge design calls for adding the line to the base of the new structure.
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.
Some 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).
Anyone wishing to be placed on the state’s contact list for email updates on the project can sign up using this online form.
Other Road Work updates | Aug. 4-8
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 construction areas.
Waterbury
Bidwell Lane: Some work remains on and along Bidwell Lane in downtown Waterbury this week but the street will be open, Waterbury Public Works Director Bill Woodruff said. The project involves some upgrades to stormwater structures, repairs to curbing. The area also will be getting new streetlights to match those along Main and Stowe streets.
Maple Street: A streambank stabilization project on upper Maple Street in Waterbury Center is in progress with alternating one-lane traffic during its duration. The work along the Thatcher Brook is addressing damage from last summer’s flooding. A temporary traffic signal is in place to regulate traffic in the work area which is between the intersections with Guild Hill Road and Mountain View Drive. This project is expected to run through next week.
Union Street: On Wednesday, Aug. 6, starting at 7:30 a.m., a town crew will be working on Union Street near Armory Drive and North Main Street. The work involves maintenance to the sewer system manholes. The street will remain open to alternating one-lane traffic, Woodruff said.
Fayston
Road closure in Fayston on Monday, Aug. 4. Click to enlarge. Courtesy photo
On Monday, Aug. 4, starting at 7 a.m. until 4 p.m., North Fayston Road will be closed for the Fayston Road Crew to replace and upsize a culvert.
During this time, Randell Road will serve as the detour route. (see map)
This is a full road closure, so local residents are asked to plan accordingly to allow extra time for morning and afternoon travel. Direct any questions or concerns to the staff at the town office at 802-496-2454.
To sign up for the Town of Fayston Town Email Chain for important messages about town business, use this online form.
Warren
On Tuesday, August 5, Plunkton Road in Warren will be closed near the addresses 2323-2353 for a culvert replacement project. The location is to the south of Blueberry Lake. Work is scheduled between 7 a.m. and 4 p.m.
On Wednesday, West Hill Road will be closed between the addresses 1496 and 1635 for a culvert replacement. Work will take place between 7 a.m. and 4 p.m.
Interstate 89: Waterbury-Montpelier southbound
Deep milling in the travel and breakdown lanes is happening on I-89 south of Waterbury. VTrans photo
Motorists should expect to be traveling on uneven lanes and milled surfaces. Expect major delays due to multiple southbound lane closures between Exit 10 Waterbury/Stowe to Exit 8 Montpelier:
Southbound passing lane closures between Mile Marker 56.5 and 53.5 will be closed to motorists during working hours only.
Southbound travel lane closures between Mile Marker 62.5 and 58.0 will be closed to motorists 24/7.
Work this week, from Monday through Friday, Aug. 4-8, between 5:30 a.m. and 6:30 p.m. will involve:
Continuation of the 5"-deep milling of the travel lane and breakdown shoulder.
Weather permitting, continuing installation, leveling, and intermediate course of pavement after the milling process.
Installation of temporary pavement markings, 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.