December 5, 2013 by EW

Upcoming Event: Trail Day Tour

Please join us for a “Trail Day” tour to observe progress on the I-91 bridge demolition, hosted by PCL and FIGG, the construction and design companies for the bridge.
Date and time: Saturday, December 14, 8:00 AM.
Meet at the Marina kiosk. All welcome!

The PCL+FIGG Team will conduct the first on-site “Trail Talk” for the Public on Saturday, December 14, 2013. These trail talks will discuss the status of the I-91 Brattleboro Bridge Project and will provide participants the opportunity to learn about the construction and ask questions.

The talks will originate at the West River Trail near the marina. The first trail talk will be led by Caleb Linn, Project Manager for PCL (lead contractor), and Garrett Hoffman, Design Manager for FIGG (bridge designer).

Interested participants should meet the PCL+FIGG Team at the West River Trail trailhead at the Marina on Saturday, December 14, 2013, at 8 a.m. The talk will begin at 8:15 a.m. Participants will walk the trail to the I-91 bridge site, so please wear appropriate clothing and footwear.

The project’s website features up-to-date information about the project, construction photos, and live traffic cameras.

If you would like additional information, or would like to be added to an email distribution list for all project updates, please contact Cindy Cook, Public Relations Officer, Adamant Accord, Inc. ccook@adamantaccord.com.

December 4, 2013 by EW

I-91 Brattleboro Bridge Replacement Project Update Week of December 1, 2013

VT I-91 Bridge construction activity affecting the West River Trail:
The trail is open from the northern trailhead to a point just north of the bridge construction area. The northern trailhead access location is on Rice Farm Road in Dummerston, about a mile south of the Iron Bridge.

Work beneath the bridge will resume on Monday, December 2nd and will continue all week. Starting Monday, December 2nd, the trail will be closed at the Marina Trailhead and through access will not be permitted from the north on weekdays, due to construction activities.

Signage at the Marina Trailhead and Rice Farm Road Trailhead will indicate current trail status. In addition, the project’s website (www.i91brattleborobridge.com) will be updated on the current status of the trail. If you would like additional information, please contact Cindy Cook, Public Relations Officer, Adamant Accord, Inc. ccook@adamantaccord.com.

November 25, 2013 by EW

I-91 Brattleboro Bridge Replacement Project Update Week of November 24, 2013

Happy Thanksgiving!
Work beneath the bridge will continue for the week of November 24th. Monday through Wednesday, the trail will be closed at the Marina Trailhead and through access will not be permitted from the north, due to construction activities. The full trail will be open Thanksgiving Thursday through Sunday.

The Trail is always open from the northern trailhead to a point just north of the bridge construction area. The northern trailhead access location is on Rice Farm Road in Dummerston, about a mile south of the Iron Bridge.

Signage at the Marina Trailhead and Rice Farm Road Trailhead will indicate current trail status. In addition, the current status of the trail will be posted on the project’s website.

If you would like additional information, please contact Cindy Cook, Public Relations Officer, Adamant Accord, Inc. ccook@adamantaccord.com.

November 25, 2013 by EW

Successful Trail Work day, Sunday, November 3!

The day started out brisk, cold and gray, but the sun came out and warmed us up nicely–perfect for working on the trail! We had a great group of 15 volunteers! The chainsaw group cut up and moved several fallen trees off the trail (including some on the new Riverstone Preserve property); the culvert clearing group dug and ditched and cleared the culverts of fallen leaves, allowing the water to flow through them again; the ATV group traveled the length of the trail, trimming the tops of the new mile marker posts, putting up some signage and collecting small piles of trash; and the loppers and trimmers cleared trails on the Riverstone Preserve. We were happy to welcome Amy Enochs, a staff from the Greenwood School and 4 of her students, Willie, Thomas, Dale and Zachary. We also appreciated the help of Jim Ethier, Tim Tyrrell, Steve Shriner, Joan Weir, Malcolm Moore, Marcia Steckler, and Kathleen White. Peter Yost co-coordinated the day’s work with Jason Cooper-thank you Peter and Jason! And Peter’s daughter, May, did a great job driving the ATV. Thank you to all who came out. A lot was accomplished and we received great feedback about the trail from many happy trail users!

November 17, 2013 by EW

I-91 Brattleboro Bridge Replacement Project Update: Week of November 17, 2013

THE TRAIL IS OPEN from the northern trailhead to a point just north of the bridge construction area. UPDATE: Overhead utility relocation will be completed the week of November 17th, and will be followed by excavation of the bridge foundation near the trail. The trail from the Marina Trailhead to the I-91 bridges will be closed for the week of November 17th and the following week; however, it will be open over the weekend. Signage at the Marina Trailhead and Rice Farm Road Trailhead will indicate current trail status. In addition, we will keep the project’s website www.i91brattleborobridge.com up-to-date on the current status of the trail. THE TRAIL IS OPEN from the northern trailhead to a point just north of the bridge construction area. The northern trailhead access location is on Rice Farm Road in Dummerston, about a mile south of the green Iron Bridge.

MORE ABOUT THE CONSTRUCTION:
Work on 1-91 Bridge Replacement in Brattleboro Leads to I-91 Lane Closures for Next Two Years. Work is beginning in earnest on a project to replace two existing bridges on I-91 with a single, four-lane structure that will accommodate both northbound and southbound traffic.

The PCL+FIGG Team that is working under contract to the Vermont Agency of Transportation announced today that northbound I-91 traffic will be relocated to one of the lanes on the southbound bridge starting on Tuesday, November 12th and continuing until the existing northbound bridge is demolished. Once the northbound bridge is demolished and the new bridge has been constructed, traffic will be rerouted to the new bridge while the southbound bridge is demolished. Throughout this process, traffic will be reduced to a single lane in each direction on I-91 until completion of the project in the Fall of 2015.

“We are pleased to see this important project moving forward,” said Vermont Transportation Secretary Brian Searles. “Thanks to the innovative design-build approach, and active community involvement in the design process, Vermonters and the many visitors who use this important artery will be getting excellent value for their tax dollars while creating a structure that will improve safety and continue to serve as a symbolic gateway on the West River.”

The project website (http://www.i91brattleborobridge.com) includes live video 24/7 of traffic conditions in the construction zone from several locations and also depicts the messages posted on the project’s portable signs.

If you would like more information about the bridge replacement project, or would like to receive e-mail notices of future travel restrictions associated with this project, please contact Public Relations Officer Cindy Cook at ccook@adamantaccord.com or (802) 223-1330.

November 6, 2013 by EW

Film: After the Floods: Vermont’s Rivers and the Legacy of Irene

Local non-profit Riverbank Media is pleased to announce a free public screening of its latest film, After the Floods: Vermont’s Rivers and the Legacy of Irene, on Thursday, November 14th, at 6:30pm at the Londonderry Depot at 34 W River St., Londonderry, VT. The hour-long film explores river dynamics, opportunities for improving flood resiliency, and the long-term consequences of river modification on town communities and fish habitat. Producer Joe DeFelice traveled to locations across the state interviewing agency experts and environmental leaders about the current state of our rivers and the challenge of preparing for likely future events. After the Floods was funded in part by a Vermont Fish and Wildlife Watershed grant and is Riverbank Media’s fifth film. For a small donation, DVDs of Riverbank Media’s other work will be available.

November 3, 2013 by EW

I-91 Brattleboro Bridge Replacement Project Update: Week of November 3, 2013

Overhead utility relocation started on Wednesday, October 30th, and will be followed by excavation of the foundation near the trail. The trail from the Marina Trailhead to the I-91 bridges will be closed the remainder of the week of November 3rd and the following week, however, it will be open over the weekend.

The Trail is open from the northern trailhead to a point just north of the bridge construction area. The northern trailhead access location is on Rice Farm Road, about a mile south of the Iron Bridge on Rt 30 in Dummerston.

Signage at the Marina Trailhead and Rice Farm Road Trailhead will indicate current trail status. In addition, we will keep the project’s website (www.i91brattleborobridge.com) up-to-date on the current status of the trail.

If you would like additional information, please contact Cindy Cook, Public Relations Officer, Adamant Accord, Inc. ccook@adamantaccord.com.

October 29, 2013 by EW

West River Trail Workday Sunday Nov 3 at 10 AM

Happy Fall! We hope you can join us for an upcoming West River Trail Workday.
When: Sunday November 3, 2013 at 10 AM
Where: Meet up at the southern Marina trailhead
Who: All are welcome to join in, even just to chat, take pictures or lend moral support to the effort.
What: A bit of cleanup of the trail to get it ready for the winter – cleaning out some culverts, removing a few logs, putting up some new signs. This is all light work and should be quick with many hands.
Hiking shoes and gloves are advised. We have the tools.

Come and hear about future plans and help open a couple of trails to the river. The West River Trail now includes a new 21 acre piece of land along the river, The Riverstone Preserve. Get a close-up view of the bridge construction and hear about what the Agency of Transportation is doing and how the West River Trail will benefit.

Everyone is welcome to join us at the Marina afterwards for a beer or a hot drink.

Posted on behalf of Jason Cooper & Peter Yost.
Contact Jason at jason.cooper10@gmail.com with any questions.

October 24, 2013 by EW

The West River Trail is Open

Hurray! The weather is gorgeous and the lower section of the West River Trail is currently open at both the northern and southern trailheads. Signage at the Marina Trailhead and Rice Farm Road Trailhead will indicate current trail status. In addition, check the project’s website here for construction updates that affect the trail.

October 17, 2013 by EW

Keep Your Dog Under Control on the Trail

Reminder: If you are out on the trail with your dog, please keep your dog under control, to avoid conflicts with walkers, bikers and other dogs who are out enjoying the trail. We want everyone to have an enjoyable experience. Also, please be prepared to clean up after your pet. Thank you so much. West River Trail Steering Committee