East Burke Bridge Construction

Details: Created on Wednesday, 29 April 2015 14:14; Written by Taylor Young

Burke Bridge BURKE - A construction project that begins this week in East Burke will have major impacts on anyone driving through the area. Vermont Agency of Transportation crews will be replacing the single-span bridge over the Dish Mill Brook on Route 114.

An estimated 3,600 vehicles pass over the bridge on a daily basis, but due to 49 years of flooding deteeriorating the bridge's concrete walls, drivers will be forced to find alternate routes for the three-week closure.

"The technology is out there now where we can prefabricate units, bridge units, ahead of time where we can close the bridge and then replace it in a very short duration," said Vermont Agency of Transportation project manager, Rob Young.

According to officials, the new bridge will be 20 feet longer and 9 feet wider, giving bicyclist and pedestrians a combined nine feet of space that they originally didn't have.

"This project, I think, is great for the Northeast Kingdom, for Island Pond, and up that way," said local resident, Gary Lunderville. "My only concern was it's right in tourism season."

The bridge will be limited to one lane traffic from now until May 26th, drivers must then take alternate routes from the time it closes, until it's scheduled completion date of June 15th. After the bridge is completed, drivers will still see the bridge being reduced to one lane during daytime hours. The project will be completed by mid-August.

The detour routes are a major downfall of the project. Coming from the north, there is an expected 20 extra miles, and from the south, 48.5 extra miles.

"My argument is that this is fast, this is better, this is quicker, it's less expensive," says Young, "and overall, it will be a lesser impact to the community."

For more information you can visit the VTrans project page here, or call the Project Hotline at 272-1248.