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Project Updates

The project team is issuing weekly Construction Updates via email highlighting the upcoming week’s construction activities and anticipated impacts. The project also issues Project Announcements and Traffic Alerts to the project stakeholder list to share important milestones and any schedule changes. Click here to sign up to receive these updates directly in your inbox.

You can also sign up by contacting the project’s Public Information Team at 802-595-4399 or info@ColchesterExit17.com and providing your email address. Periodic updates will also be posted on VTAlert, Front Porch Forum, and VTrans social media channels.

Latest Construction Update

DATE: Thursday, November 21, 2024

SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT: Due to weather conditions, the Interstate 89 (I-89) northbound and southbound lanes at the Exit 17 interchange will not be closed tonight, Thursday, November 21, from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. as originally scheduled. This work has been postponed to next week.

In observance of Thanksgiving Day, crews will be out of the roadway by 12 p.m. on Wednesday, November 27, until Monday, December 2, at 7 a.m.

TRAFFIC IMPACT AND DURATION: From Sunday, November 24, at 8 p.m. to Tuesday, November 26, at 6 a.m., I-89 southbound will be closed, with traffic maintained via a detour route from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. each night. I-89 northbound will have a single-lane reduction, with I-89 northbound traffic maintained via one lane on the interstate. The existing U.S. Route 2 (U.S. 2) bridge over I-89 will remain open to two lanes of traffic with the potential for a single-lane reduction.

Temporary traffic control signage and portable changeable message boards are installed along the I-89 southbound detour route to guide travelers. Southbound traffic on I-89 will be directed to exit the interstate at Exit 17, turn left onto U.S. 2., and immediately re-enter I-89 using the southbound on-ramp at the Exit 17 interchange, as shown in the graphic below.

Southbound traffic on I-89 will be directed to exit the interstate at Exit 17, turn left onto U.S. 2., and immediately re-enter I-89 using the southbound on-ramp at the Exit 17 interchange.

The I-89 northbound off-ramp slip lane to U.S. 2 westbound will remain closed 24/7 for bridge construction. Motorists can turn right or left onto U.S. 2 at the signalized intersection.

From Monday, November 25, at 6 a.m. through Wednesday, November 27, at 12 p.m., there is potential for Interstate 89 (I-89) to be intermittently reduced to a single lane in both directions near Exit 17 during daytime off-peak hours: 6 a.m. to 3 p.m. on I-89 northbound and 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. on I-89 southbound.

Motorists should slow down, use caution, and pay attention to flaggers and road signage while traveling through the work zone.

CONSTRUCTION ACTIVITIES: On Sunday and Monday night, crews will finish tightening the bolts connecting the structural steel girders for the new U.S. 2 bridge over I-89. There is potential for this work to extend into daytime hours on Monday through Wednesday, under single-lane closures.

Crews install structural steel girders for the new U.S. 2 bridge over I-89 in Colchester, VT.

Crews install structural steel girders for the new U.S. 2 bridge over I-89 in Colchester, VT.

Crews install structural steel girders for the new U.S. 2 bridge over I-89 in Colchester, VT.

Past Project Updates

TRAFFIC ALERT:

From Sunday, November 24, to Monday, November 25, between 8 p.m. and 6 a.m. each night, I-89 southbound will be closed, with traffic maintained via a signed detour route. Southbound traffic on I-89 will be directed to exit the interstate at Exit 17, turn left onto U.S. 2., and immediately re-enter I-89 using the southbound on-ramp at the Exit 17 interchange. I-89 northbound will have a single-lane reduction, with I-89 northbound traffic maintained via one lane on the interstate. The existing U.S. Route 2 (U.S. 2) bridge over I-89 will remain open to two lanes of traffic with the potential for a single-lane reduction.

On Monday, August 19, southbound traffic on Interstate 89 exiting at Exit 17 permanently shifted to the new southbound off-ramp located west of the existing off-ramp.