Temporary Bridges Update #11

We’re about at the halfway point of this phase of our bridge replacement project.

Wednesday, June 14, marked the 10th day of construction.

The project has brought the promised disruption and some frustration to the center of town.

But there’s also a sense of order to it all. You can see the plan unfolding. And construction crews and community both adapting to the situation in the effort to make things work.

Main Street Waterline Shutoff Update

No change in what I reported yesterday. We expect water service on the Post Office side of Main Street—between the Battell Bridge and the Post Office, and including St. Stephen’s—to be temporarily shut off on Thursday, starting about 2 PM. Water will be shut off for the remainder of the day.

A But . . . This timeline could change as Champlain Construction works to get access to the town waterline. I will keep the following buildings and business updated during the day: the Post Office, the National Bank of Middlebury, St. Stephen’s, IPJ Real Estate, Vermont Book Shop, Main Street Stationery, Sweet Cecily, Danforth, and Wild Mountain Thyme.

Wednesday Wrap-Up

Nicholson completed drilling minipiles on the Battell side of Merchants Row.

The following on Merchants Row are open for business and would welcome you downtown: The Diner, Bourdon Insurance, Curve Appeal, Carol’s Hungry Mind Café, Sabai Sabai, and Edgewater Gallery.

Parking Suggestion. I almost always find parking on College Street in the diagonal spaces across from our newest in-town business, Shafer Market & Deli. Just out of curiosity, I took a medium-paced walk from there to the Post Office. It took about 5 minutes, not much uphill. Maybe an option for some.

What’s on Tap Thursday: Merchants Row

Some morning finish work and then Nicholson will relocate drilling to the Village Green side of Merchants Row. When that happens, perhaps midday, the one-way traffic moving up the hill toward Court Square will switch to the Battell side of the street.

Like yesterday, some parking will be available in the upper stretch of Merchants Row but it will be limited. Kubricky has added signs to the barricades to try to reinforce the new traffic pattern.

What’s on Tap Thursday: Main Street

The relocation of the Main Street waterline is emerging as the big event of the second half of this phase of construction. Champlain Construction’s first big task is to expose the waterlines on either side of the railway. That work will continue in the morning and the project team will make a call on whether it’s a go for the afternoon water shutoff (see above).

Kubricky has had to close off Printers Alley during this phase of work. Right now it isn’t safe for people to be trying to get through the alley. To get to the Post Office from the National Bank side of Main Street, cross Main Street and walk up past St. Stephen’s to the crosswalk to the Post Office.

Please keep your comments and questions coming. Send me an email at jgish@townofmiddlebury.org and I’ll try to cover it in my next update.

Jim Gish

Community Liaison

Middlebury Bridge and Rail Project