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This project advanced through the Project Definition phase within the 2017-2019 timeframe, with the Chittenden County Regional Planning Commission (CCRPC) as the lead agency. During this phase of the project, existing conditions, constraints, and public input were collected to develop a Purpose and Need statement for the project. Once the Purpose and Need was established, various design solutions or “alternatives” were developed and evaluated. The evaluation process considers how well each alternative meets the project goals, and evaluates conceptual site impacts, schedule, cost estimates, and several other factors.

To help define the project during this previous phase of work, the project team consulted with an advisory committee, held a public meeting, and presented the project to both the Burlington City Council and the Winooski City Council. The project additionally considered ongoing studies at several adjacent roads and intersections and a traffic study occurred to help identify the necessary number of lanes and pedestrian accommodations.

This completed Project Definition phase concluded with a Scoping Report, dated May 30, 2019. This report recommended advancing a complete bridge replacement with four, 11-foot-wide travel lanes with 2-foot-wide shoulders and two 12-foot-wide shared-use paths that are separated from the roadway with a traffic barrier. This recommended alternative was subsequently approved by Burlington City Council, Winooski City Council, CCRPC, and VTrans. With this approval, the project was “defined” and will advance with four travel lanes. In addition to meeting current needs, the bridge width provides the municipalities flexibility within the 100-year life span to reallocate space/travel lanes depending on transportation demands of the future.

Additionally, in 2022, the project received a federal grant through the Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity (RAISE) program for $24.8-million dollars, which requires the obligation of the construction funds in 2026.  Within the grant application, the project team committed to using a “design-build” contracting mechanism. This RAISE grant will provide a significant portion of the funding required to design and construct the new bridge, with additional funding provided by the State of Vermont and local municipalities. Preliminary engineering will take place over the next several years.  Construction is planned to begin in 2027.

A concrete bridge with a stone pillar, with vehicles driving across the bridge, surrounded by trees with changing leaves, and buildings in the background under a partly cloudy sky.
A cityscape with two cars on a bridge, surrounded by large brick buildings under a partly cloudy sky.
A concrete bridge with green steel underside spans a river, with buildings and trees visible in the background under a partly cloudy sky.
Project Phases and Schedule

As explained above, the Scoping Report was completed in 2019 which resulted in a Project Definition. The schedule graphic below depicts the sequence of this past work as well as the timing of the RAISE Grant Award. 

A timeline labeled ‘Schedule - Past’ from 2016 to 2023, highlighting key milestones in a project including the project beginning in 2017, a traffic study in 2018, external input gathering in 2018, scoping report completion in 2019, and a RAISE grant application in 2022.

The schedule depicted below shows the current and future work phases of the project. 

A timeline from 2023 to 2030 outlining the stages of a construction project including concept design between 2023 and 2024, commitments and clearances between 2024 and 2025, solicitation of contractors in 2025, construction contracting in 2026, final design in 2027, construction beginning in 2028, construction complete between 2029 and 2030, and site restoration after 2030.