Steps forward have been made towards developing the Diverging Diamond Interchange off 1-89 Exit 16 in Colchester.Vermont Agency of Transportation held a public meeting on Thursday sharing that construction will begin on this project before the end of the month.It’s been a topic of discussion and debate within the community for years.”The current interchange experience has significant notorious delay in vehicle cueing,” says Mike LaCroix, VTrans Traffic & Safety. “These delays in cueing contribute to a safety issue. This area experiences an average of three reported collisions a month, which is the eighth highest rate in Vermont.”At first glance, the new roadway design may seem confusing.However, Mike LaCroix says this layout is more efficient. “The DDI design eliminates left turn phases at the traffic signals by directing both left turning and through moving traffic to the left side of the road before the driver’s decision to turn or remain straight or curves on the on-ramps,” LaCroix said.Aaron Frank, Colchester’s town manager, believes the new layout will “not only improve automobile travel, but also prove enhancements to pedestrian and bicycle infrastructure in the area.”However, not all the reaction has been positive. Toni Burgess, a Colchester resident, who drives through there on a daily basis, says her concerns relate to driving through there during the wintertime. She believes that any snow will make the lines on the road difficult to see, potentially causing further accidents.VTrans says their idea conception works with any weather season.”A robust package of pavement markings and signage are all well-defined visual cues that will make driving through the crossroads intuitive,” LaCroix said. “Wintertime driving will be identical to driving anywhere else in Vermont. The presence of the raised islands, both ground-mounted and overhead signage, will be evident when roadways are covered in snow “The project is fully federally funded costing nearly $20 million to construct.It could be completed for summer of 2026.Most of the work for this project will take place between 7 p.m. and 6 a.m. each day.On Jan. 23, VTrans will be hosting a presentation to the select board to discuss the project more in-depth.
Steps forward have been made towards developing the Diverging Diamond Interchange off 1-89 Exit 16 in Colchester.
Vermont Agency of Transportation held a public meeting on Thursday sharing that construction will begin on this project before the end of the month.
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It’s been a topic of discussion and debate within the community for years.
“The current interchange experience has significant notorious delay in vehicle cueing,” says Mike LaCroix, VTrans Traffic & Safety. “These delays in cueing contribute to a safety issue. This area experiences an average of three reported collisions a month, which is the eighth highest rate in Vermont.”
At first glance, the new roadway design may seem confusing.
However, Mike LaCroix says this layout is more efficient.
“The DDI design eliminates left turn phases at the traffic signals by directing both left turning and through moving traffic to the left side of the road before the driver’s decision to turn or remain straight or curves on the on-ramps,” LaCroix said.
Aaron Frank, Colchester’s town manager, believes the new layout will “not only improve automobile travel, but also prove enhancements to pedestrian and bicycle infrastructure in the area.”
However, not all the reaction has been positive.
Toni Burgess, a Colchester resident, who drives through there on a daily basis, says her concerns relate to driving through there during the wintertime. She believes that any snow will make the lines on the road difficult to see, potentially causing further accidents.
VTrans says their idea conception works with any weather season.
“A robust package of pavement markings and signage are all well-defined visual cues that will make driving through the crossroads intuitive,” LaCroix said. “Wintertime driving will be identical to driving anywhere else in Vermont. The presence of the raised islands, both ground-mounted and overhead signage, will be evident when roadways are covered in snow “
The project is fully federally funded costing nearly $20 million to construct.
It could be completed for summer of 2026.
Most of the work for this project will take place between 7 p.m. and 6 a.m. each day.
On Jan. 23, VTrans will be hosting a presentation to the select board to discuss the project more in-depth.
