Frequently Asked Questions

Where exactly in Hartford is this project located?

The two bridges that will be replaced are on I-91 in White River Junction, about one half mile north the junction of I-91 and I-89.

When will construction take place? How long will construction take?

Construction began in March and will be completed by late October 2015.

What is the detour route during construction?

To replace the two bridges, it will be necessary to close I-91 in one direction for a weekend for each bridge. US Route 5 will remain open throughout construction. Several detour routes have been developed.

Will Route 5 be open in both directions at the same time?

Yes.

Are you closing both Route 5 and the interstate the weekend that you remove the bridge?

No. We are only closing I-91. Route 5 will have intermittent closures of a lane for brief periods (10-20 minutes) to complete tasks that require brief closures such as setting beams. These activities will be done between 2 a.m. and 5 a.m., when traffic is lightest.

Will there be night work other than the closure weekends?

Yes. There will be night work for milling bridge decks but we expect night work to be limited. There will also be night work activities such as setting beams for the new bridges, pouring concrete and other activities that would impede traffic during the day. Night work will be warned so motorists can make appropriate routing decisions.

Are you planning to work a 7 day schedule?

The construction schedule is for a six-day week (Monday – Saturday). However, unexpected elements may add more nights or Sunday work that is not currently anticipated.

Will you be rerouting traffic along the VA Road to keep it away from the Route 5 work zone?

No. We plan to keep Route 5 open in two directions during construction. If a mishap closes Route 5 for any reason uniformed officers will be posted to reroute traffic through detours. The VA road may be used as a detour if Route 5 is closed unexpectedly.

Removing the slip ramp on to I-91 S will force more traffic into the single intersection to get on the highway. This will mean longer waits for traffic that needs to make the left turn to get on to this ramp. Is there any thought of making the temporary light a permanent one?

This is a Town of Hartford decision. Based on its earlier traffic studies, the Town doesn’t think one will be needed after construction. Removing the slip ramp eliminates a potential safety issue where the two ramps merge. It will also provide the space the Town wants to add a sidewalk and bike lane in that area. The vehicles turning right onto the ramp will need to yield to those turning left.

If there is an emergency in that area is there a way to get emergency vehicles through the work-zone quickly?

Yes. We’ve met numerous times with the emergency services team and they are comfortable that the current plan will work fine. The project should not result in any noticeable difference in response time.

If local people take other options that are not the official detour, will we find local roads too busy to cross?

We don’t expect that to be a problem, but if there are local spots you encounter that are let us know and we’ll see how we can address it.

Will the garden at the exit ramp that volunteers have carefully tended for many years be lost?

No. This garden will not be affected by the construction. Plantings in the median that was removed by the contractor were excavated and set aside for the garden club to replant in the future.

The traffic signals have really slowed travel on Route 5. Do you expect this to continue throughout construction?

With the elimination of a travel lane (from 3-lanes to 2-lanes) travelers can expect slower travel on Route 5 throughout construction. We advise motorists to take alternate routes if possible.

There seem to be a lot of signs warning motorists about this project. Are they all necessary?

Management of traffic during construction has been a key element of planning for the project. This project is in a heavily travelled area, located near the junction of two interstate highways. Therefore, a Smart Work Zone system with sensors, video cameras and message boards has been set up at 25 locations on Route 5, I-91 and I-89, including on I-89 in New Hampshire. The system is designed to sense when traffic is backing up and communicate to travelers via message boards placed at strategic locations that they should seek alternate routes to avoid congestion at Exit 11.

What is the cost of the project?

The project will cost about $11.1 million, with 95% federal funding and 5% funded by VTrans.

How can I learn more about this project?

Please visit this website for project updates. You may also register to receive email notices of project news and construction updates.