Project Location: Town of Topsham in Orange County on VT Route 25 over Waits River.  The bridge is located approximately 1.1 miles south of the junction with US Route 302.  

The Topsham Bridge 23 project includes the replacement of the existing single span concrete T-Beam Bridge.  The existing structure has a span of 44-feet and a width of 27-feet. The structure currently has a deck rating of 4 (poor), a superstructure rating of 5 (fair), and a substructure rating of 6 (satisfactory). This bridge was constructed in 1946. The deck is at risk for full depth hole formation and is rated in poor condition.

VTrans evaluated alternatives for rehabilitation or replacement of the bridge in an engineering study completed in September 2020. This study assessed the proposed design criteria for the structure, right-of-way, rare/threatened/endangered species impacts, hydraulics, and resource impacts. Several alternatives were considered, including: no action, minor rehabilitation, superstructure replacement, and full bridge replacement. Maintenance of traffic options considered included an offsite detour, phased construction, or a temporary bridge. 

Given the age of the structure, site constraints and current conditions, the engineering study recommended a full bridge replacement with a new buried structure and traffic maintained on an offsite detour during a short-term summer closure.  The proposed typical section would include two 11-foot travel lanes with 5-foot shoulders to meet the minimum standards as set forth in the Vermont State Standards, for a total width of 32-feet.