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An image of the existing culvert inlet along VT Route 117 in Essex

A view of the existing culvert inlet along VT Route 117

 

For questions/concerns regarding this project or to receive weekly project updates, you may email Stephanie Barrett, Public Outreach Consultant at sbarrett@coibsinc.com or call 802-399-7847

Project Fact Sheet

Essex - VT Route 117 Culvert Replacement

The Vermont Agency of Transportation is replacing a failing culvert structure along VT Route 117 over the Alder Brook. The bridge is located approximately 2.4 miles east of the junction of VT 15, VT 2A, and VT 117. The new, wider culvert will replace the existing deteriorated pipe arch with a dependable and durable structure. Additional roadway work in the area will also improve the project site and promote better drainage in the vicinity.

THIS PROJECT IS COMPLETE!

On behalf of the VT Agency of Transportation and myself, we would like to thank everyone for your patience and understanding during the construction of this completed Buried Bridge Culvert Replacement project.

Apr21 VT117 Culvert

BEFORE - April 2021

Upstream view of defective culvert

AFTER - October 2021

Upstream and downstream views of the new Buried Bridge Culvert


The following is the anticipated work schedule for the week beginning Monday, October 11, 2021:
Monday:
  • No work due to the Indigenous Person's Day holiday
Tuesday through Friday:
  • Weather permitting, completion of miscellaneous pavement markings
  • Removal of construction signage

Motorists can expect minimal delays

VT 117 pavement markings installed

 


The following is the anticipated work schedule for the week beginning Monday, October 4, 2021:
Monday through Friday:
  • Weather permitting, pavement markings
  • General cleanup work throughout the project limits
Motorists should us caution as there is currently minimal lane designation

Essex VT 117

VT 117 paving complete


The following is the anticipated work schedule for the week beginning Monday, September 27, 2021:
Monday through Wednesday
  • Weather permitting, final paving within the construction area
Thursday and Friday:
  • Weather permitting, pavement markings

Traffic control will be present allowing for one lane of alternating travel. Motorists should expect delays.

VT117 guardrail

Guardrail installed within the project limits


The following is the anticipated work schedule for the week beginning Monday, September 20, 2021:
Monday through Friday:
  • Project cleanup in preparation for final paving
Motorists should not encounter any delays due to project activities.

Essex VT 117

Base pavement complete

 


The following is the anticipated work schedule for the week beginning Monday, September 13, 2021:
Monday through Friday:
  • Installation of granite curbing
  • Continue prep for roadway tie-in/paving
Thursday:
  • Traffic to be split and shifted to the southern most side for eastbound traffic and northern most side for westbound traffic within the work zone to allow for work in the center of the roadway.
Motorists should be aware of trucks/equipment entering/exiting the work area.

Essex VT117

Upstream section of the buried bridge installed; Prepping roadway for paving


The following is the anticipated work schedule for the week beginning Monday, September 6, 2021:
Monday:
  • No work due to the Labor Day holiday
Tuesday through Friday:
       •   Westbound motorists can expect to travel on 1/2 pavement and 1/2 gravel on the east end of the project
  • Bridge approach work to prepare the roadway for paving
Motorists should be aware of trucks/equipment entering/exiting the work area.

Milling machine brought in to grind some existing roadway within the construction area


The following is the anticipated work schedule for the week beginning Monday, August 30, 2021:
Monday through Friday:
  • Backfilling and roadway subbase work
Motorists should be aware of trucks/equipment entering/exiting the work area.

VT 117

VT 117

Picking and placing the precast concrete buried bridge sections


The following is the anticipated work schedule for the week beginning Monday, August 23, 2021:

Monday and Tuesday - 8:30am to 4:30pm MOTORISTS EXPECT DELAYS:
  • Placement of the precast concrete bridge sections. This work will warrant one-lane of alternating traffic within the work zone.
Wednesday through Friday:
  • Concrete pour to seal the bridge joints.

Essex VT117 Abutments

Abutment walls curing


The following is the anticipated work schedule for the week beginning Monday, August 16, 2021:
Monday through Friday:
  • Minimal work to include project cleanup as time is allowed for the concrete abutment walls to cure
Motorists should be aware of trucks/equipment entering/exiting the work area.

Essex VT117

Setting Rebar and placing form for concrete abutment walls to be poured 8/13/21


The following is the anticipated work schedule for the week beginning Monday, August 9, 2021:

 

Monday and Tuesday:

  • Continue pile driving (sheeting) for stabilization. Please note, this is a noisy operation!
Wednesday through Friday:
  • Begin placing forms for concrete abutment walls
Motorists should be aware of trucks/equipment entering/exiting the work area.

Essex 117

"Pile driving" Installing "H-Beams"


The following is the anticipated work schedule for the week beginning Monday, August 2, 2021:
Monday through Friday:
  • Continue pile driving (sheeting) for stabilization. Please note, this is a noisy operation!

Old culvert section removed from the 2nd half of the project


The following is the anticipated work schedule for the week beginning Monday, July 26, 2021:
Monday through Friday:
  • Continue excavation work to remove the existing galvanized culvert and pile driving (sheeting) for stabilization.

South side paved with traffic now shifted onto surface

Completed section of buried bridge open to traffic


The following is the anticipated work schedule for the week beginning Monday, July 19, 2021:
Monday through Friday:
  • Excavation work to remove the existing galvanized culvert and prepare to drive pile (sheeting) for stabilization.

 

The westbound on-ramp for VT 289 will be closed; Motorists to use the VT 289 eastbound on-ramp.

Expect minimal delays with 2-way traffic and lane shifts.

South side of buried bridge structure installed

Paving over newly installed buried bridge preparing to shift traffic onto the roadway


The following is the anticipated work schedule for the week beginning Monday, July 12, 2021:
Monday and Tuesday:
  • Weather permitting, paving the new section of the buried bridge and approaches.
Wednesday through Friday:
  • If paving is complete, traffic will be shifted over to the new section and work will begin on the demolition of the remaining upstream section of the existing culvert.
Motorists should be aware of trucks entering/exiting the work area.
Picking and placing the precast concrete buried bridge sections

The following is the anticipated work schedule for the week beginning Monday, July 5, 2021:
Monday:
  • No work due to the Independence Day holiday.
Tuesday through Friday:
  • Backfilling and roadway subbase work
Motorists should be aware of trucks entering/exiting the work area.
Setting up cranes to begin installing precast concrete bridge sections

EXPECT MAJOR DELAYS!
Thursday - 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.; Friday 6:30 a.m. until noon:
There will be one-lane of alternating traffic Thursday and Friday within the work zone to allow for placement of the precast concrete bridge sections. Motorists will encounter major delays!

The following is the anticipated work schedule for the week beginning Monday, June 28, 2021:
Monday through Wednesday:
  • Abutment work in anticipation of the installation of the precast buried bridge structure.
Thursday - 8:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.; Friday 6:30 a.m. until noon:
  • Expect Delays! Motorists be aware of alternating one-way travel within the work zone to allow for placement of the precast concrete bridge sections.
Motorists should be aware of trucks entering/exiting the work area.
Awaiting precast buried bridge structure

The following is the anticipated work schedule for the week beginning Monday, June 21, 2021:
Monday through Friday:
  • Abutment work in anticipation of the installation of the precast buried bridge structure.
Motorists should be aware of trucks entering/exiting the work area.
Abutment walls poured; Awaiting precast buried bridge structure

The following is the anticipated work schedule for the week beginning Monday, June 14, 2021:
Monday through Friday:
  • Minimal work to include project cleanup in anticipation of the precast structure to arrive the end of June 2021.
Motorists should be aware of trucks entering/exiting the work area.
Old culvert pipe removed. Water being diverted to prep base for new precast structure
Stone being installed to base of Alder Brook to prep for structure installation

The following is the anticipated work schedule for the week beginning Monday, June 7, 2021:
Monday through Wednesday:
  • Demolition and removal of the existing culvert pipe. There will be traffic control present for a periodic lane closure allowing for trucks transporting the old culvert away from the construction site.
Monday through Friday:
  • Continued prep work for the installation of the new precast buried bridge structure.
Motorists should be aware of trucks entering/exiting the work area.
Footing forms awaiting concrete pour
Concrete footing poured

The following is the anticipated work schedule for the week beginning Monday, May 31, 2021:
Monday:
  • No work due to the Memorial Day holiday
Tuesday through Friday:
  • Begin demolition of the existing culvert pipe
Wednesday:
  • Pouring of the concrete abutment walls
Motorists should be aware of trucks entering/exiting the work area.
"Pile" complete on east side
"Pile" complete on the east side awaiting forms to pour concrete wall

The following is the anticipated work schedule for the week beginning Monday, May 24, 2021:
Monday through Friday:
  • Metal sheeting is installed on the east side.
  • Work continues installing metal sheeting ("driving pile") to stabilize the foundation for the buried bridge installation on the west side. Please note, this is a noisy operation.
Motorists should be aware of trucks entering/exiting the work area.
Continue "driving pile" for road stabilization

The following is the anticipated work schedule for the week beginning Monday, May 17, 2021:
Monday through Friday:
  • Continue installing metal sheeting ("driving pile") to stabilize the foundation for the buried bridge installation. Please be aware that this is a noisy operation.

Minimal impact as traffic continues to be shifted within the construction area. Motorists should be aware of trucks entering/exiting the work area.

 

Metal sheeting installed for road stabilization


The following is the anticipated work schedule for the week beginning Monday, May 10, 2021:
Monday through Friday:
  • Continue removal of demolition of existing structure. Motorists should be aware of trucks entering/exiting the work area.

Removal of concrete slabs about existing

culvert