Bennington Road Projects: Key Updates and Traffic Changes

The Town of Bennington has announced significant road construction and maintenance projects for the week of August 18-22, which will result in various traffic changes across the area. The projects, aimed at improving infrastructure, will involve closures, lane reductions, and detours, impacting both local residents and commuters.

Traffic Adjustments on Major Roads

College Road will experience a complete closure for several months while a private contractor constructs a new roundabout for the State highway department. Motorists are advised to follow detour signage to find alternative routes. Similarly, Gage Street will be reduced to one lane throughout the week as town crews prepare manholes and manage water shut-offs in anticipation of final paving set for next month. Local residents will have access, but all other traffic should seek alternate pathways.

Garbrooke Drive will also see one-lane traffic on Monday and Tuesday, as crews rebuild manholes. Residents in this area will be accommodated, but other drivers should plan for detours.

Main Street Bridge #6, located at Beech Street, will undergo night work on Monday and Wednesday, with lane restrictions or possible detours from 20:00 to 07:00. Daytime lane restrictions will continue for several months as the State of Vermont’s Agency of Transportation (VTRANS) begins the bridge replacement project. Expect delays and consider alternate routes during this time.

Extended Closures and Ongoing Maintenance

Murphy Road will be closed to all through traffic on Thursday and Friday for bridge repairs. Residents will need to enter and exit from either side of the bridge during this period, which is expected to last throughout the day for the next five weeks.

North Bennington Road, near Bennington College, will also face lane reductions for several months as construction of a new roundabout continues. Caution is advised while traveling in this area, as construction crews and equipment will be present.

Additionally, lead line replacements on North Street and South Street will necessitate one-lane traffic flow. Drivers should approach these areas with care and consider alternate routes when possible. Franklin Lane will be closed on Wednesday for sewer line repairs, further impacting local traffic.

Townwide, street sweeping will continue early each Thursday morning, alongside ongoing roadside mowing and park maintenance activities in North Bennington.

State projects include the full bridge replacement on Vermont Route 9 at Main Street Bridge #6, which is projected to take several months. Night work on utility transfers will occur Monday and Wednesday from 20:00 to 07:00 in preparation for the bridge demolition and replacement. Lane closures and detours will be implemented in the coming weeks.

Construction will also affect traffic on Silk Road, North Bennington Road, Bennington College, and Matteson Road. From Monday to Friday, single-lane closures with alternating one-way traffic controlled by flaggers will take place along Vermont Route 67A near Silk Road from 07:00 to 17:00. College Drive and Matteson Road will be fully closed at Vermont Route 67A, with traffic maintained via signed detour routes until late September.

Motorists are encouraged to remain vigilant for uneven gravel surfaces on Vermont Route 67A within the project limits and to proceed with caution. Further updates regarding closures and detour routes will be provided in a traffic alert next week.

As these road projects progress, residents and visitors are reminded to stay informed and plan their travel accordingly to minimize disruptions.