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State recovery officer outlines culvert and bridge needs after Sutton flooding
Summary
A State of Vermont flood recovery officer told Sutton officials that a hydraulic study has identified multiple culverts and a bridge needing replacement or upsizing — including a Pudding Hill culvert estimated at over $2 million — and urged ongoing outreach to legislators and grant-writing assistance.
Select Board Chair Joe Solinsky met with Patricia Moulton, the State of Vermont Flood Recovery Officer, who outlined outstanding recovery needs and potential funding sources for the town after recent flooding.
Moulton said the work already completed by the town will not qualify for grants but offered help identifying possible sources including VTrans programs, the Agency of Commerce, the Northern Borders Regional Commission and NVDA for grant writing. She noted a state hydraulic study has already been completed and identified priorities: Sutton Hollow Road (closed, but with an alternate entrance), Pudding Hill Bridge (temporarily open but recommended for replacement), Calendar Book Road (culvert needs upsizing), a Station Road culvert (where a small bridge may be less costly than a box culvert) and Burke Road (likely needs upsizing). A rough estimate for replacing the Pudding Hill culvert was described as over $2 million.
Moulton urged continued, sustained outreach to state legislators to secure funding and technical support and offered to coordinate with local contacts. She said, "keep talking to your legislators letting them know we need money to help our small-town recovery from the flooding." Town staff noted practical constraints for some solutions — for example, free box culverts require crane and trucking to install — and recommended involving an engineer to refine options and cost estimates.
Next steps: Moulton said she would reach out to state contacts including the town's go-to engineer Nate Sicard and to regional staff (Logan) to pursue estimates and funding possibilities; the board agreed that the town must decide whether to repair or leave Sutton Hollow Road closed and to prioritize engineering for bridges and culverts before seeking grant funding.
