Project Location: Town of Waterbury in Washington County on US Route 2 over The Little River. The bridge is located approximately 1.3 miles west of the junction with VT Route 100 North.

The Waterbury Bridge 44 project includes a superstructure repalcement with traffic maintained on a temporary bridge during construction. The existing structure is a 243-foot long 3-Span Rolled Beam Bridge. The structure currently has a deck rating of 4 (poor), a superstructure rating of 6 (satisfactory), and a substructure rating of 4 (poor). This bridge was constructed in 1961, and repainted in 1984.

VTrans evaluated alternatives for rehabilitation or replacement of the bridge in an engineering study completed in November, 2019. This study assessed the proposed design criteria for the structure, right-of-way, wildlife impacts, utilities, hydraulics, and community considerations. Several alternatives were considered, including: no action, deck replacement, superstructure repalcement, and full bridge replacement on-alignment. The scoping report evaluated an offsite detour, phased construction, or a temporary bridge for maintenance of traffic.

Given the age of the structure, site constraints, exsiting geometery, needs of the Town, and current conditions, the engineering study recommended a superstructure replacement with traffic maintained on a 2-lane temporary bridge during construction. The new superstructure will meet the minimum standards for width as set forth in the Vermont state standards. This will include 4-foot wide shoulders and 11-foot wide travel lanes.

It is anticipated that the bridge will be constructed during the summer of 2023.