READSBORO, Vt. — The deteriorating Readsboro Memorial Bridge over the Deerfield River is set to be replaced with $25.8 million in federal funds. 

 

The U.S. Department of Transportation announced the award last week, making Readsboro the only recipient in the Northeast for funding in this round of the Rural Surface Transportation Grant Program.

 

The state's congressional delegation, U.S. Sens. Bernie Sanders and Peter Welch, and U.S. Rep. Becca Balin, applauded the investment. The federal funding, made possible by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, will improve and help complete street enhancements, create accessible sidewalks, and improve safety in Readsboro. 

 

"Bolstering Vermont's infrastructure is crucial to ensuring the safety, security, and success of families, workers, and people traveling through the Green Mountain State. We're pleased to see this investment of more than $25 million, made possible by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, benefit Bennington County," the delegation stated in joint release. "The replacement of the Readsboro Bridge will boost Southern Vermont's critical infrastructure, improve safety and accessibility, and make Readsboro more resilient to extreme weather."

 

Bridge No. 25 was built in 1954, replacing the High Bridge that had been in use for 63 years. The 340-foot-long span cost $400,000 and was dedicated on July 4, 1955, to six Readsboro natives who had died in World War II and Korea. Nearly 2,000 people attended the opening, which included a ribbon cutting by then Gov. Joseph Johnson and a parade with a band and floats and Emma Ross, who at 90 was the town's oldest resident.

 

The new 287-foot bridge will incorporate historic preservation features to honor the character and history of the span and will have a wider sidewalk for pedestrians to cross safely while reducing vehicle traffic. The improved bridge will also be built to better withstand extreme weather events driven by climate change — including Vermont's floods of 2023 and 2024 — with improved drainage systems. 

 

The estimated total cost is $33 million, according to the Vermont Department of Transportation.

 

"The need to update our infrastructure is something we can all agree on and is long overdue in many of our rural towns," said Gov. Phil Scott. "Making smart investments in projects like this one is important to revitalizing our communities for Vermonters and visitors."

 

The Vermont delegation urged U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg to support the replacement of the Readsboro Bridge in March 2024. Construction is expected to start this summer and be completed by the winter of 2028. Traffic will be maintained using phased construction and some weekend closure periods with an off-site detour for major stages of construction.