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Barre drivers will need patience

A car travels over the Prospect Street bridge in Barre. The bridge is slated to be replaced this summer. Kyle Martel/Times Argus

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BARRE — One strategically located bridge will soon be out of commission and 13 city streets will be under construction as the state makes good on one promise and the city on another.

City Engineer Reginald Abare told city councilors this week that the familiar clang of vehicles passing over a rusted steel bridge on Prospect Street will soon be a memory because the bridge, which is not far from City Hall, will be closed for the summer starting May 20.

According to Abare, the South Burlington contractor hired by the state to replace the deteriorating bridge will mobilize on site next week. However, he said, a crew from S.D. Ireland Concrete Construction Corp. must first install a 60-foot-long pedestrian bridge before closing and demolishing the existing bridge and its abutments.

Abare said the pedestrian bridge, which will be 4 feet wide and flanked by a 6-foot-tall chain link fence, will be the only way to cross the Stevens Branch of the Winooski River on Prospect Street this summer. If all goes well, he said, the new concrete bridge will be open to limited vehicular traffic Aug. 28.

Abare said the bridge is scheduled to reopen for vehicular and pedestrian use in early October, though the contractor will likely be on scene into November putting finishing touches on a $1.6 million project that includes replacing and upsizing two water mains that run beneath the existing bridge.

With the bridge out for the summer and the contractor planning to block Burnham Street —preventing Prospect Street traffic from getting to the Granite Street bridge — motorists will have to find alternate routes this summer. They might want to given the city's plans to tear up and repave nearly three-quarters of a mile of Upper Prospect Street, including a 1,000-foot section between Berlin and Bailey streets that will require extensive utility work.

Although Abare said the road won't be closed for that work, it will disrupt traffic. Motorists who live off Prospect Street are encouraged to use either Berlin Street or Allen and Bridge streets to cross the Stevens Branch.

Mayor Thomas Lauzon worried that the Berlin Street bridge replacement project, coupled with the street work, will translate into a significant increase in traffic on Berlin Street.

"We're going to be easily doubling the amount of traffic on that road," he said, suggesting residents, particularly those with children, should be aware of what's coming.

Lauzon said a meeting with residents of that street might be appropriate.

"They're going to be seeing significantly more traffic than they're used to," he said.

Abare predicted motorists would seek the path of least resistance, something that will be happening throughout Barre this summer as the city tackles an ambitious paving plan financed by the $1.5 million bond issue voters approved in March.

Acting on Abare's recommendation, councilors accepted the low bid of Pike Industries for the paving work that will target two dozen streets, including three lengthy sections of Prospect Street, this summer. He said the paving bids came in better than expected and he estimated the city would save roughly $80,000, money that could be put toward additional road work.

Lauzon said that would be a mistake, given the ambitious paving schedule the city has planned for this summer.

"I'd rather do the schedule that we've outlined well and within budget," he said, suggesting any extra money could be carried over into next year.

According to Abare, the first batch of streets — those that don't involve any utility work — are scheduled to be repaved by June 30.

Included on that list are:

Belvidere Street;

A 500-foot section of Burnham Street in the vicinity of Capital Candy;

Burns Street;

A 640-foot section of Cassie Street between Camp and Onward streets;

A 1,150-foot section of Currier Street between Tremont and Onward streets;

Daniel Drive;

Knoll Drive;

Laurel Street;

Lewis Street;

Lunde Lane;

Mount Vernon Place;

North Parkside Terrace;

Sunrise Avenue.

Abare said a second batch of streets, many of which involve extensive utility work, are scheduled to be repaved by Oct. 16.

That list includes:

An 835-foot section of Academy Street starting at Mount Street;

A 1,000-foot section of Allen Street;

Berlin Street between Railroad and John streets;

A 1,900-foot section of Elm Street from Eastern Avenue to the end;

Elmwood Avenue;

An 870-foot section of Hill Street between French and Washington streets;

Hillside Avenue;

Mount Street;

A 750-foot section of North Seminary Street between Brook and North Main streets;

A 1,760-foot section of Prospect Street from Bailey Street to the Berlin town line;

A 1,075-foot section of Prospect Street between Berlin and Bailey streets;

A 900-foot section of Prospect Street between Jacques and Berlin streets;

A 750-foot section of Sheridan Street between Wellington and Burns streets;

A 1,660-foot section of Tremont Street between Elm and Currier streets.