State Roads Update - 5/4/2011

For Immediate Release  

Contact:  Sue Minter  802-828-2657

May 4, 2011

State Roads Update:
VTrans Working To Keep Roads Safe

The Vermont Agency of Transportation (VTrans) is working to stay ahead of the weather to keep roads open and safe for the travelling public. Lake Champlain has reached historic levels following continued precipitation throughout April and melting snow pack from the very snowy winter, and numerous rivers and streams are at flood level across the state. VTrans has maximized its resources to shore up roads wherever possible, and implement detours where needed, in order to keep the travelling public safe.

In an effort to keep the public aware of the road conditions across the state, the Agency of Transportation reports the following state road conditions across Vermont (note that this report does not cover the status of town roads):

State Road Closures:

Route 129 in Isle La Motte, (just ahead of

West Shore Road

) is closed due to water over the roadway and possible culvert damage. Motorists are advised to avoid this section of roadway.

Route 36 in St. Albans, between

Georgia Shore Road

and

Bronson Road

(1 mile west of St. Albans) is closed due to flooding. Motorists are advised to avoid this section of roadway.

Route 125 near Chimney Point between Route 17 and

Town Line Road

is closed approximately 13 miles west of Middlebury. Route 17 remains open following VTrans’ action to add fill to flooded areas.

Maid Stone State Highway

is closed due to flooding. Motorists are advised to avoid this section of roadway.

Route 73 in Brandon, along the Otter Creek is closed. Motorists are advised to avoid this section of roadway.

Smugglers Notch, Jeffersonville to Stowe, remains closed, weather pending.

Areas of Ongoing Concern:

With continued precipitation, VTrans, in association with Vermont Emergency Management, continues to monitor several problem areas, particularly roads along Lake Champlain and swollen rivers. These roads are not currently closed but may be reduced to one-lane traffic.

I-89 South bound in Milton will be one-lane traffic due to instability of the right lane.

Route 2 Causeway (Milton) is open to traffic.  VTrans is working to keep this road open with gravel and stone.  Road may be reduced to one-lane travel to accommodate VTrans activities. Motorists advised to proceed with caution.

Route 2 in Alburg, between routes 78 and 129, Wagner Point. Some water in the road but both lanes are open. Motorists are advised to reduce speed and exercise caution.

Route 118 between Montgomery and Belvidere. There are multiple locations (on 118) that are reduced to one-lane traffic due to slope slides. These are extended events that will last until further notice.

Route 122 in Lyndon, between the Interstate and

Wheelock Road

. One-lane traffic due to slope failure. This will be an extended event that will last until further notice.

Route 114 between Canaan and Island Pond, through Norton. Motorists will experience several single-lane areas due to multiple slope failures.

For more information please call 802-828-2648 (7am -5pm) or 211 (Vermont Emergency Management). Road condition information is also found at: 511vt.com. This site is updated throughout the day between the hours of 7am -5pm.