UPDATED July 17: Road work rises to a new level following the storm
July 15, 2024 | By Lisa Scagliotti Since last week’s storm, many road repair projects are in progress and conditions on storm-affected roads needing repair also may be changing.
The information below from Monday has been updated with new details on:
Laurel Road in Waterbury: Work on the bridge near the intersection with Vermont Route 100 is underway for the next several days. Local traffic only. The work area is narrow and drivers may have delays.
Little River Road project next week in Waterbury
Camels Hump Road in Duxbury: Closed to all but local resident traffic only until further notice.
Vermont Route 100B: Now open with a temporary bridge as of Tuesday evening.
Summer road work all around Vermont has taken on a whole new dimension since last week’s storm and flooding that resulted in countless washouts, culvert failures and bridges collapsing around the state.
A washout along Henry Hough Road. Photo by Mike Hedges
In Waterbury and Duxbury, crews have opened all roads to be passable with ongoing repairs moving ahead as quickly as possible this week. Multiple projects will need material and possible contractor help and all damage needs to be documented to be reported to the state to be included in the overall damage estimates submitted to the Federal Emergency Management Agency for potential federal funding to help cover repair costs.
Status updates for roads in Waterbury and Duxbury are below as well as a note regarding Moretown roads.
Route 100 & 100B UPDATE: Temporary bridge opens 100B
Two key state routes were severely impacted by last week’s storm. Dowsville Brook in Duxbury and Moretown washed out several bridges including ones on Vermont Routes 100 and 100B.
Vermont Route 100 just south of Harwood Union High School near Ward Hill Road in Duxbury remains closed due to a bridge collapse.
Vermont Route 100B over Dowsville Brook in Moretown was reopened late on Tuesday with the installation of a temporary bridge. The detour using Pony Farm Road is no longer needed.
The Route 100 and 100B bridges “suffered catastrophic damage during the flooding event,” according to Ernie Patnoe, Vermont Agency of Transportation Director of Maintenance. “Moretown was a complete failure.”
The Lyndonville contractor Winterset Construction was mobilized for the project and completed a temporary bridge installation on Tuesday. Winterset now moves its crew to the Route 100 bridge repair.
“Duxbury was massive, leaving the bridge abutment completely eroded away and left standing on its pilings,” Patnoe said. “This one will take a bit longer, possibly open by July 20.”
VTrans is aware of the public interest in getting both of the key state roads back open and has personnel working with the contractors. “We are working as fast as we can on both projects to expedite each area’s connectivity,” he said.
WATERBURY ROADS
Waterbury highway workers are clearing storm debris and shoring up the banks at the Laurel Road bridge this week. The narrow span is open to local traffic only and there may be delays. Click to enlarge the images. Photos by Gordon Miller
Public Works Director Bill Woodruff reports that all roads with damage are open. Those with damage across the entire roadway have access from alternate points. Repairs will be taking place along shoulders, culverts, and bridges as quickly as possible.
Shaw Mansion Road is closed at “the dip” with access open on both the Loomis Hill Road and Kneeland Flats Road ends and from Valley View Drive. Town officials will be discussing how to address the storm damage to the culvert and whether the section warrants a different long-term approach such as a bridge or closing it entirely to through traffic.
Gregg Hill Road’s southern entry on Vermont Route 100 near Guild Hill Road is closed due to a washout of a culvert across the road. All traffic must use the northern access near the Stowe town line.
Blush Hill Road is reopened to the reservoir after weekend repairs to the gravel section of the road past Blush Hill Estates.
Work that was in progress before last week’s storm:
Paving continues in the Kennedy Drive neighborhood.
Bridge work continues on Guptil Road near the Kneeland Flats intersection. One-lane traffic is open during this project and motorists are asked to proceed slowly while workers are present.
Laurel Road bridge: Tuesday-Friday, July 16-19
Work is underway by the town highway crew to make repairs below the Laurel Road bridge near the intersection with Vermont Route 100. The narrow bridge will remain open for traffic but motorists may have some delays. Local traffic only. Public Works Director Bill Woodruff said the project will likely take 3-5 days.
Little River Road: Monday-Thursday, July 22-25
Next week, Monday-Thursday, July 22-25, contractors will begin an extensive right-of-way clearing project on Little River Road beginning at 377 Little River Road and continuing up the road for approximately three-quarters of a mile. This work will involve the removal of numerous trees and will result in traffic stoppages and lengthy delays. Waterbury Public Works asks that the public limit trips in and out of the work zone during these days.
A new 15-foot culvert is installed on Atwood Road. Photo by Gordon Miller
DUXBURY ROADS
As of the weekend, all roads in Duxbury are open and passable, with many however just one drivable lane. Motorists are asked to go slowly.
Selectboard Chair Richard Charland in an email update to residents thanked Road Foreman Brian Gibbs and his crew for their efforts along with contractors assisting in multiple locations including Kingsbury Construction, Lamson Landworks, Gibbs Excavation, Mac Andrews, Evan Theurer, Tough Country Excavation, J.A. McDonald, Scott Woodard along with a number of residents who worked with their own equipment to clear roads following the storm.
Town officials have reviewed most of the road damage with a representative from the Vermont Agency of Transportation to document damage in an effort to calculate repair estimates, needs for materials and reports to the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
Here is a list of roads affected by storm damage, most of which have just one usable lane.
Ward Hill Road: The Route 100 closure prevents access from town. Access is through Moretown on 100B using Pony Farm Road to Meadow Road to Route 100.
Dowsville Road: Open and passable to the top. The large culvert near Vigilante Road will require engineering to size the replacement.
SPECIAL NOTE: GPS apps are directing people to the crossroad between Dowsville and Ward Hill roads. This is NOT open and offers no access in either direction. There will be signs posted at the Route 100 intersections with both roads to alert drivers before they attempt to go up either road.
Stevens Brook Road: Open to the town line with Moretown. A large culvert crossing the road has washed out making this no longer a shortcut into Moretown. GPS directions suggesting this route are incorrect.
Turner Hill Road: Open in both directions with deep washouts along the road.
Crossett Hill Road: Open the entire length.
Morse Road: Open with washouts to be addressed.
Atwood Road: Open after a large culvert replacement over the weekend. The contractor will be on site finishing the project on Monday.
River Road and Marshall Road are both open.
Camels Hump Road: Closed to all vehicular traffic above Scrabble Hill Road except for residents and emergency services, until further notice. The the road suffered damage on the downhill side next to Ridley Brook, in the vicinity of a culvert that underwent repairs last winter after December’s flooding. The Duxbury Select Board is reaching out to a contractor to have the damage assessed.
Moretown Roads: Residents Only
The Valley Reporter has shared an update from Moretown Road Foreman Martin Cameron that all roads in Moretown are open for residents and emergency vehicle access.
“Most all roads in Moretown were affected by this flooding/storm,” Cameron said. “My statement is that all roads in Moretown are open to residents only. All others, whether they be UPS/fuel/garbage/FedEx/delivery should not consider them open.”
Fayston road update
The Town of Fayston has an email messaging system to communicate with local residents.
Here is a link to the July 16 town bulletin regarding road closures and conditions.
To sign up to be added to the email list, click here.
State projects
Work on ongoing state projects and emergency storm repairs is substantial this week.
For the latest list of state projects and their status, visit the VTRANS website here.