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Residents and businesses warn of safety and economic harm from extended bridge closure
Summary
Residents described repeated accidents, near-misses involving a school bus, and impacts to local businesses (Bigelow Farm, Roma's Butchery). Speakers urged urgent advocacy to speed replacement or mitigation because emergency access and livelihoods are at risk.
Several residents described dangerous conditions on the detour routes since the Fox Stand Bridge closed and said the longer timeline increases risk to public safety and to local businesses. Speakers recounted repeated vehicle crashes at the same turn, a recent school-bus incident, and longer emergency response times when detours are used.
"It's cost us a lot of money, a lot of damage to our vehicles... it's really a strain on a lot of us," one resident said, outlining longer drives and vehicle damage. Steve Wyman and another participant documented business impacts: "There's the Bigelow Farm and the Fox Stand... concerns about that closing is a direct impact to this bridge closure," Wyman said, and he urged senators and state staff to document effects on neighboring towns that rely on the route.
Participants also raised the possibility of temporary mitigation—guardrail replacement and selective widening of detour segments—but noted VTrans said a temporary bridge was not feasible at one point because of poor bedrock near the site. Attendees urged the select board to press the state for faster scoping and for outreach to neighboring towns whose businesses and residents are affected.
