Irene's Wake

This is a synopsis printed in our local paper today (10/9/11) of Irene's impact to our roads, statewide. And as complete as it appears, they say the local impact is much greater than what is depicted here. Note that this doesn't begin to count the cost of reconstruction (only guesstimating that of labor on the state roads - so far), nor of the impact of all this infrastructure having been missing. Note too that Irene came through six weeks ago.

A look at the damage Irene caused to Vermont's roads and bridges

Irene's damage - state

• STATE ROADS CLOSED POST-STORM: 146

• STATE ROADS REOPENED AS OF LAST WEEK: 140 (27 with some restrictions)

• STATE ROADS THAT REMAIN CLOSED: Vermont 107 in Stockbridge, Vermont 107 in Bethel, Vermont 131 in Cavendish, Vermont 106 in Weathersfield, Vermont 100 in Jamaica and Vermont 12A in Roxbury.

• STATE BRIDGES CLOSED POST-STORM: 34

• STATE BRIDGES REOPENED AS OF LAST WEEK: 28 (three with some restrictions).

• STATE BRIDGES STILL CLOSED AS OF LAST WEEK: Vermont 100 in Readsboro, Vermont 73 in Barnard, Vermont 73 in Rochester, Vermont 100 in Jamaican and two bridges on Vermont 12A in Roxbury.

• MILES OF STATE ROAD CLOSED POST-STORM: 531.77

• MILES OF STATE ROAD REOPENED AS OF LAST WEEK: 518.76

• STATE TRANSPORTATION WORKERS ASSIGNED TO STORM RESPONSE: 700

• OUTSIDE HELP: 349 from Maine Department of Transportation; 20 from New Hampshire Department of Transportation; 667 from six states’ National Guard units, 1,860 from 185 private contractors.

• AGENCY OF TRANSPORTATION OVERTIME: 55,000 hours for a total cost of $1.8 million.

Source: State Agency of Transportation

Irene's damage - local

• LOCAL ROAD SEGMENTS DAMAGED IN STORM: 2,260

• LOCAL ROAD SEGMENTS CLOSED AS OF LAST WEEK: 175

• LOCAL ROAD SEGMENTS OPEN ONLY TO EMERGENCY TRAFFIC: 33

• LOCAL BRIDGES DAMAGED IN STORM: 289

• LOCAL BRIDGES CLOSED AS OF LAST WEEK: 90

• LOCAL BRIDGES OPEN TO EMERGENCY-ONLY TRAFFIC: 6

Source: Chittenden County Regional Planning Commission

What roads are still closed

Agency of Transportation Secretary Brian Searles said the longest-lingering projects to reopen roads closed by Tropical Storm Irene are:

• VERMONT 107 between Bethel and Stockbridge, which has two separate washouts where the White River rerouted itself. The road is expected to be open by Thanksgiving.

• VERMONT 106 in Weathersfield, which is likely to be done in December.

• VERMONT 131 in Cavendish, where Irene opened a canyon. It should be open by Thanksgiving, possibly earlier.

• VERMONT 12A in Roxbury, where two bridges and a section of road are washed out. The bridge repairs will be permanent rather than temporary and are expected to be done by Dec. 15.

Other work to reopen state roads is expected to be done by the end of October, Searles said.