This may not be good news to some folks, but commuters who use Route 2 west of Joe's Pond, will likely be saying, "Thank you, V-Trans, it's about time!"
 

For Immediate Release
Submitted By:  Francine Perkins, Project Outreach Coordinator
802-479-6994

VTrans to Start Reconstruction Project on US 2 Cabot

August 2, 2017 – The Vermont Agency of Transportation (VTrans) is moving forward with the US 2 Cabot Danville reconstruction project.  The 1.4 mile project extends along US 2 from Last Road to Danville Hill Road in Cabot.  This multi-year construction project is anticipated to begin in mid to late August with a contract completion of June 2019.  The project will close down during the winter with construction resuming in the spring. 

This full depth reconstruction project will include replacement of the existing underlying select materials and widening of US 2 to 12 foot travel lanes and 8 foot shoulders.   New select materials will be added along with three layers of new pavement.  Plans also include drainage improvements to this stretch of US 2. 

As part of this project, Bridge #87, near Last Road, and Bridge #88, west of Goodrich’s Maple Farm, are scheduled for replacement.  Temporary bridges will carry traffic during the bridge replacement work.  US 2 will undergo a shift in alignment and grade change at Bridge #88 to increase safety.

In an effort to minimize traffic disruptions, temporary two-way detours will be constructed along US 2 to maintain traffic flow during construction. Alternating one-way traffic will be used to allow construction vehicles to access the work site and other construction related tasks.  

Access to all residences and Goodrich’s Maple Farm will be maintained throughout the duration of the project. 

Contact Francine Perkins, Project Outreach Coordinator, FRP Enterprises, LLC with any questions or concerns with regards to the project at 802-479-6994.  Construction updates will be emailed weekly and posted at www.roadworkupdates.com.

In spite of the inconvenience of having road work starting this fall and throughout next summer, that stretch of highway through a cedar swamp has been exceedingly dangerous - I'm guessing since it was first paved in about 1929.  There are two narrow bridges, and Bridge #88 near Folsom's farm is especially bad.  I believe that is a temporary bridge put in after it washed out during the flooding in 2011.  It has needed a "shift in alignment and grade change" for many years.

It seems to me this will be a nice improvement and will connect two sections of Route 2 in Cabot that have previously been improved - the project by Molly's Falls Dam, and Drew Hill in East Cabot, the hill from Danville Hill Road east near Molly's Pond.  There is a lot more that could be done to improve Route 2 between West Danville and Montpelier, and although these projects seem like baby steps in the overall scheme of things, we'll take what we can get. 

On a slightly more local note, the work on Danville Hill Road from Route 2 to Cabot Village is scheduled to be completed by the end of this week.