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Colchester Exit 17 Project

Colchester Exit 17

Construction Update

DATE: Friday, May 2, 2025

SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT: Construction of the new Interstate 89 (I-89) Exit 17 interchange northbound ramps will require nighttime closures for approximately two weeks. Closures will occur from Sunday, May 4, at 7 p.m. to Friday, May 9, at 6 a.m., and from Sunday, May 11, at 7 p.m. to Friday, May 16, at 6 a.m. The construction schedule is subject to change due to weather and other field variables. Additional notices will be issued next week.

TRAFFIC IMPACT AND DURATION: From Sunday, May 4, at 7 p.m. to Friday, May 9, at 6 a.m., the I-89 Exit 17 northbound off-ramp will be closed between 7 p.m. and 6 a.m. each night, with traffic maintained via off-site detours. I-89 northbound traffic will be directed to exit the interstate at the Exit 15 interchange in Winooski, turn left onto Vermont 15 (VT 15), make the first right turn out of the circulator onto U.S. Route 2/7 (U.S. 2/7), and travel approximately 7.5 miles north to the Chimney Corner intersection of U.S. Route 7 (U.S. 2/7) and U.S. 2, or exit the interstate at the Exit 18 interchange in Milton, turn right onto U.S. 7, and travel approximately 9.5 miles south to the Chimney Corner intersection. Temporary traffic control signage and portable changeable message boards are installed along the detour routes to guide travelers. The signed detour routes are shown in the graphics below.

I-89 northbound traffic will be directed to exit the interstate at the Exit 15 interchange in Winooski, turn left onto Vermont 15 (VT 15), make the first right turn out of the circulator onto U.S. Route 2/7 (U.S. 2/7), and travel approximately 7.5 miles north to the Chimney Corner intersection of U.S. Route 7 (U.S. 2/7) and U.S. 2.

I-89 northbound traffic will be directed to exit the interstate at the Exit 18 interchange in Milton, turn right onto U.S. 7, and travel approximately 9.5 miles south to the Chimney Corner intersection.

From Sunday, May 4, at 7 p.m. to Friday, May 9, at 8 p.m., I-89 will be reduced to a single lane in both directions near Exit 17, except during peak hours (3 p.m. to 8 p.m. for I-89 northbound and 6 a.m. to 9 a.m. for I-89 southbound).

Motorcyclists should expect uneven gravel surfaces on the Exit 17 northbound off-ramp during the day when the ramp is open. Motorists should slow down, use caution, and pay attention to road signs while traveling through the project limits.

CONSTRUCTION ACTIVITIES: From Sunday through Friday during nighttime hours, crews will construct the new Exit 17 northbound off-ramp.

Monday through Friday during daytime hours, crews will continue installing rebar and forming construction joints for the new U.S. 2 bridge deck and constructing the eastern bridge approach.

Crews continue to construct the new U.S. 2 bridge deck over I-89 in Colchester, VT.

Crews continue to construct the new U.S. 2 bridge deck over I-89 in Colchester, VT.

Project Overview

The Vermont Agency of Transportation (VTrans) is improving the interchange at Interstate 89 (I-89) Exit 17 and the Chimney Corner intersection of U.S. Route 2 (U.S. 2) and U.S. Route 7 (U.S. 7) to enhance safety and mobility in Colchester, Vermont. Key project elements include:

  • Replacing aging and deteriorating infrastructure through the full replacement of the existing U.S. 2 bridge over Interstate 89 (I-89).
  • Extending the deceleration lane of the I-89 northbound off-ramp.
  • Reconstructing the I-89 southbound off-ramp to make space for a new I-89 southbound on-ramp for U.S. 2 westbound.
  • Eliminating the left-turn conflict point for westbound vehicles accessing I-89 southbound and reducing queuing and backups on U.S. 2 with a new I-89 southbound on-ramp.
  • Improving the intersection of the I-89 northbound off-ramp at U.S. 2, including adding a U.S. 2 eastbound left-turn-only lane to increase capacity and reduce queuing and backups on the interstate.
  • Widening the roadway to accommodate additional turning lanes on U.S. 2 eastbound and U.S. 7 northbound to address queuing and delays at the U.S. 2 and U.S. 7 intersection.

Project Area

The project area includes the segment of U.S. 2 beginning just east of Jasper Mine Road and extending just under a half mile east to its intersection with U.S. 7 at Chimney Corner, the segment of U.S. 7 beginning just south of the Shell Gas Station/Simon’s Chimney Corner Store and extending just over a half mile north to its intersection with Wiley Road, and the Exit 17 interstate ramps and the portion of I-89 bound by them.

Project Quick Facts

Contract Award: February 22, 2024

Target Construction Schedule: Spring 2024 – Summer 2026

Projected Completion: Summer 2026

Project Designer: VHB

Project Contractor: Kubricky-Jointa Lime LLC

Estimated Project Cost: $31,760,442.50

Funding: 100% federal funding from the U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Highway Administration’s Programs

View the Project Factsheet

Stay Informed 

The Colchester Exit 17 Project will be constructed over three seasons, starting in Spring 2024 and continuing through Summer 2026. The project team issues weekly Construction Updates via email during active construction to highlight 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. To sign up to receive these updates directly in your inbox, fill out the form below:

Sign up to receive updates about the Colchester Exit 17 Project

Contact the Public Information Team

If you have questions or concerns regarding the Colchester Exit 17 project, please contact the project’s Public Information Team at:

TRAFFIC ALERT:

Starting Sunday, May 4, at 7 p.m. and continuing through Friday, May 9, at 6 a.m., the Interstate 89 (I-89) Exit 17 northbound off-ramp will be closed at night between 7 p.m. and 6 a.m. to facilitate the construction of the new off-ramp. During these nighttime closures, I-89 northbound traffic will be directed to exit the interstate at the Exit 15 interchange in Winooski, turn left onto Vermont 15 (VT 15), make the first right turn out of the circulator onto U.S. Route 2/7 (U.S. 2/7), and travel approximately 7.5 miles north to the Chimney Corner intersection of U.S. Route 7 (U.S. 2/7) and U.S. 2, or exit the interstate at the Exit 18 interchange in Milton, turn right onto U.S. 7, and travel approximately 9.5 miles south to the Chimney Corner intersection. 

From Sunday, May 4, at 7 p.m. to Friday, May 9, at 8 p.m., I-89 will be reduced to a single lane in both directions near Exit 17, except during peak hours (3 p.m. to 8 p.m. for I-89 northbound and 6 a.m. to 9 a.m. for I-89 southbound).

From Sunday, May 11, at 7 p.m. to Friday, May 16, at 6 a.m., the I-89 Exit 17 northbound off-ramp and on-ramp are scheduled to be closed at night between 7 p.m. and 6 a.m. to continue the construction of the new northbound ramps, with traffic maintained via the off-site detour routes. Please note that all dates are subject to change based on weather conditions and other field variables. Supplemental Traffic Alerts will be issued in the coming week.

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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.