Investment is made possible through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law
Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Congressional Delegation, Senator Bernie Sanders (I-Vermont), Senator Peter Welch (D-Vermont), and Representative Becca Balint (D-Vermont) today applauded the U.S. Department of Transportation’s (DOT) announcement of a $25.8 million investment to help replace the Readsboro Bridge over the Deerfield River. The federal funding, provided through DOT’s Rural Surface Transportation Grant Program and made possible by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, will improve and help complete street enhancements, create accessible sidewalks, and improve safety in Readsboro.
“Bolstering Vermont's infrastructure is crucial to ensuring the safety, security, and success of families, workers, and people traveling through the Green Mountain State. We're pleased to see this investment of more than $25 million, made possible by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, benefit Bennington County,” said the Vermont Congressional Delegation. “The replacement of the Readsboro Bridge will boost southern Vermont’s critical infrastructure, improve safety and accessibility, and make Readsboro more resilient to extreme weather.”
“The need to update our infrastructure is something we can all agree on and is long overdue in many of our rural towns,” said Governor Phil Scott. “Making smart investments in projects like this one is important to revitalizing our communities for Vermonters and visitors.”
“The bridge project has been long overdue, and the community has been patient and cooperative throughout the process,” said Vermont Transportation Secretary Joe Flynn. “This grant money ensures construction while stretching Agency funds further for infrastructure improvements.”
The Readsboro Bridge (No. 25) is in Bennington County and crosses the Deerfield River. It is located about five miles north of VT Route 100 and VT Route 8. The existing bridge, built in 1954, is in poor condition and needs to be replaced. The new bridge will incorporate historic preservation features to honor the character and history of the bridge and will have a wider sidewalk for pedestrians to cross safely while reducing vehicle traffic. The improved bridge will also be built to better withstand extreme weather events driven by climate change—including Vermont’s floods of 2023 and 2024—with improved drainage systems.
The Vermont Congressional Delegation urged Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg to support the replacement of the Readsboro Bridge in March 2024.
Learn more about how the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law has supported Vermont.
Project Factsheet January 10, 2025
Project Milestones
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Bid Re-Advertisement
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September 4, 2024
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Contract Award
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December 5, 2024
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Target Construction Schedule
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Summer 2025 - Winter 2028
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Estimated Cost
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$33,080,489.66
Existing Bridge Elevation View
Exposed Rebar Underneath the Bridge Deck
Deterioration of the Beams and Connections
READSBORO BRIDGE BR#25
BF 0102(16) Readsboro
REPLACEMENT OF BRIDGE NO. 25 ON VT100 IN READSBORO, OVER THE WEST BRANCH OF THE DEERFIELD RIVER.
Project Location: Town of Readsboro in Bennington County on VT Route 100 over the Deerfield River. The bridge is located approximately 5.2 miles north of the intersection of VT Route 100 and VT Route 8.
The Bridge 25 project on VT Route 100 in the Town of Readsboro consists of the replacement of the existing bridge, which is in poor condition, with a new bridge on a slightly improved alignment meeting all the current design standards. The existing bridge is a three span, continuous two girder bridge constructed in 1954. Bridge 25 is 340-ft in length with two, 105-ft spans and a 130-ft span. The bridge is structurally deficient with a very poor deck and superstructure condition.
VTrans evaluated alternatives for rehabilitation or replacement of Bridge 25 in an engineering study completed in October 2013. The study assessed the proposed design criteria for the bridge and roadway alignment, right of way impacts, hydraulics, and historical and archaeological resources. Several alternatives were considered for this project including no action, deck replacement, superstructure replacement, and full bridge replacement both on and off alignment. Due to the age and condition of the existing bridge it was determined that a full bridge replacement be performed.
The new 287-foot structure will be composed of a single span bridge supported by four plate girders. The substructure will be composed of concrete abutments supported by piles at one end and on ledge at the other end. Since the bridge has sufficient hydraulic capacity the new bridge will remove the significant skew that was on the old bridge. The new bridge will have two, ten-foot travel lanes with four-foot shoulders on each side and a sidewalk on one side of the bridge.
Traffic will be maintained using phased construction and some weekend closure periods with an off-site detour for major stages of construction.
Detour Route: Traffic will maintained on VT 100 utilizing phased construction, with the exception of some weekend closure periods in which traffic will utilize an off-site detour for major construction stages such as erecting the steel girders or pouring the concrete bridge deck.
Link to project sharepoint site: https://outside.vermont.gov/agency/vtrans/external/Projects/Structures/13c068
1.10.2025. READSBORO, VT – The Vermont Congressional Delegation
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