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, as well as the region. As the sole downtown crossing over the Winooski River, the Burlington-Winooski Bridge provides a link for approximately 25,000 vehicles per day and approximately 500 pedestrians and bicyclists 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. In addition, the bridge no longer meets the needs of the communities it serves. The bridge replacement will provide wider lanes and shoulders, separated shared-use paths on each side of the bridge for bicycle and pedestrian traffic, and will improve connectivity, traffic flow, and safety for all users.
The overall project will include replacing the bridge and improving the intersections immediately south of the bridge, involving Riverside Avenue, Colchester Avenue, Mill Street, and Barrett Street. The intersection improvements will generally consist of roadway reconstruction and traffic signal modifications, with the goal of improving safety and mobility for all users.
The project team, including the Vermont Agency of Transporation (VTrans), City of Burlington, City of Winooski, and the Chittenden County Regional Planning Commission (CCRPC), are eager to engage the public throughout this multi-year project. A series of public meetings will be held throughout the project. Further details can be found on the News & Events page.
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!
Past Public Meeting
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.
Upcoming Public Presentations
The Project Team will present information about the Burlington-Winooski Bridge Replacement at the upcoming Winooski City Council meeting on October 22st and the Burlington Transportation, Energy, and Utilities Committee (TEUC) on October 29th. Agendas and further details will be available on the City of Winooski website and the City of Burlington website.
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 will
not start until 2027.
