May 6, 2008
I-89 Northbound at French Hill to be Reduced to One Lane
MONTPELIER The Vermont Agency of Transportation (VTrans) will limit Interstate 89 northbound between Richmond and Williston to one lane beginning May 12 so crews can eliminate a significant dip that has developed in the roadway. The lane closure is expected to last until Memorial Day, which is May 26.
Crews will work around the clock to repair the road so that two lanes can be reestablished as quickly as possible, but until then motorists should expect delays, especially during peak morning and afternoon commute times. The heaviest backups are expected in the morning. Commuters are encouraged to adjust their travel plans.
While we have worked to minimize the inconvenience, we want to let commuters know that they could experience significant delays, said VTrans Secretary Neale Lunderville. This is one of the most heavily traveled sections of roadway in Vermont. With a reconstruction project of this scope, travelers should prepare to be delayed.
Complicating matters is the fact that these repairs must be made on a significant uphill grade. Large trucks, once forced to stop on French Hill, will not be able to move very quickly until after they clear the work zone.
We expect to limit I-89 northbound traffic to one lane for about two weeks, Lunderville said. Crews will work 24/7 to reestablish two travel lanes, but in the meantime we encourage local businesses to work with their employees to allow for flexible travel schedules whenever possible.
Drivers of heavy trucks and large tractor trailers are advised that the 79-year-old historic steel truss bridge along Route 2 in Richmond in the area of Exit 11 is both weight restricted and narrow, and therefore not a viable detour for big rigs.
Commuters are encouraged to seek alternate routes or, if they cannot, adjust their traveling schedule to leave early and allow plenty of time to reach their destination, Lunderville said. We also are encouraging trucks not to use the Route 2 truss bridge in Richmond. Unless they have another way to detour, we would like truckers to remain on the Interstate.
To help motorists manage their travel time, VTrans will install a state-of-the-art information technology package that uses both Internet and electronic roadside message boards to provide real-time information about the length of delays.
The message boards will be placed along the Interstate south of French Hill and before Exit 11, as well as along Route 2 at Exit 11 so motorists know the time delay before getting onto the Interstate. Motorists can also check the length of the delay before getting in their vehicles by going to http://www.511vt.com.
Work crews beginning May 12 will close one lane of traffic and work around the clock to repair enough of the dip to reopen two lanes of traffic by Memorial Day. Once reopened to two lanes, the speed limit along this section of I-89 will be reduced until crews complete repairs a few weeks later.
Eliminating the dip on French Hill is the beginning of a larger construction project that includes paving 13 miles of I-89 northbound from Richmond to Colchester, and paving an additional 4.1 miles of I-89 southbound between Colchester and South Burlington. All paving will be done at night, so lane restrictions related to paving are not expected to cause significant delays. The paving work is expected to last into October.
I-89 both north and southbound in Berlin will also be restricted to one lane throughout the 2008 construction season as crews replace a bridge just south of Exit 8.
Lunderville encouraged motorists to driving cautiously through highway work zones to ensure not only their own safety but the safety of highway workers as well.
For their safety as well as the safety of highway workers, motorists should minimize distractions, keep a safe distance from the vehicle in front of them and slow down when driving through work zones, Lunderville said.