Construction equipment sits staged near Interstate 89’s Exit 17 in Colchester on Monday, Sept. 2, as crews prepare for nighttime bridge demolition work this week.
COLCHESTER — Motorists should prepare for overnight highway closures this week as demolition begins on the U.S. Route 2 bridge over Interstate 89 at Exit 17.
From Tuesday, Sept. 2, through Friday, Sept. 5, I-89 near Exit 17 will close nightly between 7 p.m. and 6 a.m., according to the Vermont Agency of Transportation. The I-89 Exit 17 northbound off-ramp and the southbound on-ramp from U.S. 2 westbound will also be closed during those hours.
Northbound drivers will be re-routed at Exit 16 in Colchester, directed onto U.S. 7 north for roughly 6.3 miles to Chimney Corner, where they can re-enter I-89 via the Exit 17 on-ramp. Southbound traffic will be detoured at Exit 17 onto U.S. 2 eastbound, then guided onto U.S. 7 southbound to return to the interstate at Exit 16.
Temporary signs and message boards are posted along the interstate and detour routes. I-89 and all ramps will remain open during daytime hours and weekends.
New ramp now open
The new Exit 17 southbound on-ramp from U.S. 2 westbound is now open, though VTrans cautions drivers that the acceleration lane is unfinished. Motorists should yield to southbound interstate traffic and merge only when a safe gap is available. Southbound drivers are urged to shift into the left lane before reaching Exit 17 to help ease merging.
On Friday, Sept. 5, from noon until midnight, southbound I-89 near Exit 17 will be reduced to a single lane.
While overnight work focuses on bridge demolition — including removal of the steel structure and excavation of abutments — crews will also install traffic signal mast arm foundations and wiring along U.S. 2 during the day. Signal work may cause delays, and drivers are advised to allow extra travel time.
About the project
The Exit 17 Interchange and Intersection Improvement Project, now underway in Colchester, is designed to enhance safety and mobility at the busy Chimney Corner junction. Plans include replacing the aging U.S. 2 bridge, reconstructing and widening interstate ramps, extending turning lanes and reducing traffic conflicts.
The $31.7 million project is fully funded by the Federal Highway Administration and is scheduled for completion in summer 2026. Kubricky-Jointa Lime LLC is the project contractor, with VHB serving as designer.
For updates, drivers can visit vtrans.vermont.gov/projects/colchester-exit17, email info@ColchesterExit17.com, or call the 24-hour project hotline at 802-595-4399.
