To stay informed, please sign up to receive project updates by email (see below)

CONNECTING COMMUNITIES

The Burlington-Winooski Bridge is located between Burlington and Winooski, carrying US Routes 2 and 7 over the Winooski River. This bridge provides a vital connection between the two cities and the region. As the sole downtown crossing over the Winooski River, the Burlington-Winooski Bridge provides a link for approximately 25,000 vehicles, up to 2,000 pedestrians and bicyclists, and several transit routes per day. This is a drastic difference since the bridge was first constructed to primarily accommodate trolleys.

The existing bridge, constructed in 1928, is currently safe, but is approaching the end of its service life. After nearly 100 years of service, the current structure is functionally obsolete and does not meet the current or future needs of the communities. Modes of transportation and corresponding design and safety standards have changed considerably since the bridge was orginally constructed. The bridge replacement will provide wider lanes, shoulders, and separated shared-use paths on each side of the bridge for bicycle and pedestrian traffic and improve connectivity and traffic flow, thereby removing the existing barrier to safe, efficient, and equitable multimodal transportation.

The overall project will include replacing the bridge and improving the intersection immediately south of the bridge in Burlington, involving Riverside Avenue, Colchester Avenue, Mill Street, and Barrett Street. The intersection improvements will generally consist of roadway reconstruction and traffic signal modifications, to improve safety and mobility for all users.

The Project Team, including the Vermont Agency of Transportation (VTrans), the City of Burlington, the City of Winooski, and the Chittenden County Regional Planning Commision (CCRPC), are eager to engage the public throughout this multi-year project. Further details can be found on the News & Events page.

An aerial view of a newly constructed bridge spanning a river, connecting two parts of a city. Commercial buildings and parking lots line one side, while residential houses with green yards and trees are on the other. The river has greenish water, and nearby, there’s an intersection with traffic lights and pedestrian crossings.

Project Updates

Public Engagement Opportunities

The Burlington-Winooski Bridge Project Team is excited to announce that we will host an Open House in early December 2024. The Project Team will share updates on the intersection and bridge design, bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure, and provide more insight into what traffic might look like during construction.

There will also be an opportunity to provide your input on bridge aesthetics. A survey will be available for public input that shows different features and styles for lighting, traffic barriers, and pedestrian barriers.

All the information presented at the Open House will be available on the project website, including the bridge aesthetic survey; however, we encourage everyone who is able to join us in person!

Check back here soon for more information, and make sure you're signed up for email updates to stay informed!

Past Public Meetings

The Project Team has hosted two public information meetings. The first was held on September 19th 2023, and the second on January 23rd 2024. If you could not attend these meetings, you can view a recording of the presentations and all the presentation material on the Project Documents page of this website.

Project Documents Page

Upcoming Public Presentations

The Project Team will be presenting at the Burlington City Council meeting on November 18th. The agenda and further details will be available on the City of Burlington website.

The Project Team presented information about the Burlington-Winooski Bridge Replacement at the Winooski City Council meeting on October 21st, and the Burlington Transportation, Energy, and Utilities Committee (TEUC) on October 29th. You can view the meeting presentations here.

 Activities Near the Bridge & Short-term Traffic Control

In the upcoming months, you may see workers on or near the bridge with equipment. These workers are gathering data, taking measurements, and locating underground utility lines.

For the safety of the workers, short-term traffic control measures, including intermittent lane closures, may be required.

These data collection activities will occur for short durations of time between the hours of 9:00 AM to 3:30 PM.

Construction of the new bridge and intersection will
not start until 2027.