Vermont Business Magazine The contractor continued driving pipe piles for the western marine drilling platform this week at the US Route 2, drawbridge connecting North Hero and Grand Isle. They have driven 9 out of 12 pipe piles so far, and will continue this work through next week. Driving pipe piles are shown in the foreground of the VTrans photo above. The contractor will also be installing sheetpiles for a cofferdam on the eastern side of the new bridge. This work will continue through next week.
Originally, the bridge was scheduled to open to vehicle and pedestrian traffic in May 2021, but the Vermont Agency of Transportation (VTrans) now anticipates that the traffic will be restored in the summer of 2022. Construction of the project will extend into the summer of 2023 as the temporary roadway and bridge are removed after traffic is moved to the new bridge. The main reason for the extension is that construction methods needed to be modified in order to prevent the spread of contamination. These changes combined with winter work restrictions and United States Coast Guard requirements to limit the encroachments to the navigable channel will result in an expected one-year delay in opening the new bridge.
Last summer, AOT detected contaminated soil at the construction site of the replacement drawbridge between Grand Isle and North Hero. The Agency had suspected the presence of lead around the bridge from previous paint systems. While the initial testing yielded positive results for lead it also unexpectedly detected polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and hexavalent chromium. Additional testing was conducted to ensure safety of the workers and the traveling public during construction and that the contaminated waste soil was disposed of properly.
The extended duration of the project is not expected to significantly affect traveler mobility as the temporary drawbridge will continue operation during this time.
TRAFFIC IMPACT: US Route 2 at the temporary drawbridge is open to two lanes of traffic. Please expect intermittent stops and releases of traffic by flaggers to allow for construction vehicles to enter the work zone. The contractor is working Monday through Saturday 7:00 AM to 5:00PM.
The temporary bridge has a speed limit of 25mph. There are tight curves approaching the temporary bridge, and trucks are advised to reduce speed to 15mph. Bicycles should use caution while crossing the bridge.
The work zone speed limit is enforced, and individuals have been ticketed for excessive speeding. Obeying the speed limit is extremely important for everyone's safety.
NOTICE TO MARINERS: The hourly opening season for the temporary drawbridge ended on 10/15. Smaller vessels are reminded to be aware of the Coast Guard Safety Zone.
Source: VTrans 1.30.2020