Michele Boomhower from VTrans with Burlington Mayor Emma Mulvaney-Stanak at the opening of the Champlain Parkway Burlington. Courtesy photo.
As construction concludes on Parkway phase one and contractors prepare to begin phase two, the City celebrated this milestone with community members.
Vermont Business Magazine Today, Mayor Emma Mulvaney-Stanak was joined by federal, state & city officials along with community partners to announce the opening of the middle segment of the Champlain Parkway. This segment includes a new multi-use path, pedestrian activated signalization, a stormwater detention pond and a newly constructed 25 MPH road between Home Avenue and Lakeside Avenue.
"This is a major milestone for a long-stalled City project. I want to thank our community, state and federal partners in helping us get here as well as the dedication of DPW staff over many years,” said Mayor Mulvaney-Stanak. “This section of the Parkway will alleviate truck traffic in front of Champlain Elementary School, unlock potential for more housing, take pressure off of the combined sewer system and give pedestrians and cyclists safer space to navigate our City. We will take the lessons learned from this project to improve community engagement, and advance infrastructure projects that make Burlington a walkable, bikeable, and climate resilient community.”
“We’re excited to see the first section of Champlain Parkway open as we reinvest in our infrastructure and ensure vital connections are made for Americans who need to get to a job, a doctor, or a class,” said Federal Highway Administrator Shailen Bhatt. “In addition to creating a more efficient and user-friendly route that will reduce traffic congestion, the new roadway will improve safety for drivers, bicyclists, pedestrians, overall quality of life for residents, and ensure the nation’s infrastructure works for everyone.”
“The Agency of Transportation is ecstatic to have the Champlain Parkway’s first segment opened today. To see an early era highway expansion of the 1960’s and 1970’s transformed into a right-sized multimodal transportation facility in alignment with the community and economic development vision of the City is a significant achievement” stated Michele Boomhower, Division Director for Policy, Planning & Intermodal Development for the Vermont Agency of Transportation.
The Champlain Parkway project consists of two phases:
- This newly opened middle segment described above, as well as nearly complete pedestrian and roadway improvements on Lakeside from the Parkway to Pine St; and Pine St from Lakeside to Kilburn.
- The recently awarded contract that consists of a southern section connecting I-189 to Home Avenue and a northern section consisting of key pedestrian and roadway improvements to Pine Street between Kilburn and Main St. Construction is scheduled to begin this year and last through summer 2026.
FULL BENEFITS OF THE NEARLY COMPLETED FIRST PHASE OF THE CHAMPLAIN PARKWAY INCLUDE:
- A new 25-mph grid street between Home Avenue and Lakeside Avenue that will enhance connectivity and resiliency of the South End street network
- A new stormwater pond and new stormwater sand filter that will take 11.5 acres off the combined sewer system and reduce 6,344 pounds (over 3 tons) of sediment from being discharged into Lake Champlain annually
- New shared use paths providing a continuous ~2 mile off-road bike/pedestrian path from the Pine Street & Locust Street intersection to Queen City Park Road in South Burlington
- Improved raised intersections at Pine St & Kilburn St, Pine St & Marble Ave, and Pine St & Howard St
- A new midblock crosswalk Pine St & Arts Riot
- An enhanced Pine Street with new granite curbs, reconstructed sidewalk with ADA- compliant access ramps on the eastern side, and new top pavement layer with improved surface drainage
- Undergrounded utilities on Lakeside Avenue between Pine St and the new portion of the Champlain Parkway
- Renewed water and sewer lines throughout the South End – approximately 4,000 feet of waterlines and 3,000 feet of sewer lines will be replaced
- Reconstructed rail crossings with new active warning system including new gates in all quadrants, improved bicycle and pedestrian accommodation and improvements to drainage and stormwater features
- New and restored sidewalk deteriorated sidewalk along Pine Street, Lakeside Ave and Flynn Ave were replaced, and new sidewalk was added on Sears Lane and Home Ave that facilitates pedestrian connectivity where the project intersects these streets.
Source: 8.19.2024. Burlington – Mayor's Office
To support great journalism, access our archives and get unique features like our award-winning profiles, Book of Lists & Business-to-Business Directory, subscribe HERE!
