Project Location: Town of Brattleboro in Windham County on Interstate 91 at Exit 1. Bridges 4 North & South are located over US Route 5 (Canal Street).

The Brattleboro Bridges 4 N&S project will replace the existing two-span bridges with new single-span bridges.  The existing bridge decks are in poor to fair condition and are in need of replacement due to large areas of concrete spalling with exposed reinforcing steel on the fascias and multiple areas where the concrete is heavily saturated with popouts on the underside of the deck.  The paint system on the steel beams has failed.  The existing concrete abutments and piers have several areas of deteriorated concrete and exposed reinforcing steel.

The new structures will eliminate the existing piers in the median of US Route 5 which are within the clear zone, and the US Route 5 vertical clearance will be increased to a minimum of 14’-9” (existing minimum vertical clearance is 13’-10”). Crossovers will be used to maintain I-91 traffic during construction.

It is necessary to maintain two lanes of I-91 Southbound traffic throughout construction to avoid significant disruptions to traffic which would be expected to occur on several occasions throughout the construction season if I-91 Southbound traffic was reduced to one lane in this location. I-91 Northbound traffic will be reduced to one lane for the duration of the construction season while each bridge is replaced. Reducing I-91 Northbound traffic to one lane is anticipated to only result in traffic operating below an acceptable level for a total of approximately seven hours on Columbus Day Weekend for each of the two construction seasons.

The I-91 Southbound on ramp that crosses the bridge will be closed during construction which will allow for three lanes of traffic on the existing I-91 Southbound bridge while the new I-91 Northbound bridge is being constructed.  A temporary ramp will be constructed so that Southbound US Route 5 traffic can access the southern I-91 Southbound on ramp during this time.  The new I-91 Northbound bridge will be built three feet wider than the width required per Vermont State Standards in order to accommodate three lanes of traffic while the new I-91 Southbound bridge is being constructed. Alternating one-way traffic will be utilized on US Route 5 at times throughout construction. 

Link to project website:  https://outside.vermont.gov/agency/vtrans/external/Projects/Structures/19A220