Home RT7 Construction Project

Sunderland Culvert RT7 Construction Project

Current Updates

DATE: Friday, September 25, 2026

PROJECT UPDATE
TRAFFIC IMPACT AND DURATION: U.S. Route 7 (U.S. 7) between Exit 2 in Bennington, VT, and Exit 3 in Arlington, VT, is currently fully closed to traffic to allow for pre-cast culvert installation and roadway work. This road closure will be in effect 24/7 until 7 a.m. on Saturday, October 3. U.S. 7 traffic is being maintained via an off-site signed detour route along Vermont Route 7A (VT 7A) and Vermont Route 313 (VT 313).

U.S. 7 northbound traffic approaching the closure from south of Exit 2 in Bennington is being directed to exit U.S. 7 at Exit 2 and merge onto VT 7A. Motorists must yield to northbound VT 7A traffic and proceed when a safe gap is available. Traffic will then travel north on VT 7A for approximately 10 miles to VT 313 in Arlington, where drivers will turn right and continue east on VT 313. Motorists will travel beneath the U.S. 7 overpass bridges and then turn left to re-enter U.S. 7 North.

U.S. 7 southbound traffic approaching the closure from north of Exit 3 in Arlington is being directed to exit U.S. 7 at Exit 3 and merge onto VT 313. Motorists must yield to westbound VT 313 traffic and proceed when a safe gap is available. Drivers will then travel west on VT 313 to VT 7A, turn left onto VT 7A, and continue south for approximately 10 miles. At Exit 2 in Bennington, motorists will turn left onto the U.S. 7 on-ramp and re-enter U.S. 7 South. Please note, there is a 12-foot height-restricted bridge located on VT 7A immediately south of the Exit 2 ramps.

Temporary traffic signals are installed at the intersection of VT 7A and VT 313 in Arlington and at the intersection of VT 7A and the U.S. 7 Exit 2 ramps in Bennington for the duration of the closure. In addition, uniformed traffic officers will direct traffic at the Vermont Route 67A and VT 7A intersection in Shaftsbury and the VT 313 and Warm Brook Road intersection in Arlington during peak periods.

Signage and message boards are in place on U.S. 7 and throughout the detour route to help guide motorists for the closure period. A detour map is provided below for reference.

Throughout the project, weekly Construction Updates will be provided and supplemental Traffic Alerts as needed. A Traffic Alert will be issued when U.S. 7 reopens to traffic, scheduled to occur at 7 a.m. on Saturday, October 3.

CONSTRUCTION ACTIVITIES: Today and through the weekend, crews will backfill around the new precast culverts. Paving is scheduled to begin on Monday, weather permitting, with crews placing three lifts of asphalt early next week and installing guardrail. Permanent pavement markings are expected to be installed later in the week. Slope and landscaping work will take place throughout next week.

LOCATION: On U.S. Route 7 in the Town of Sunderland, approximately 0.5 miles and 1.1 miles south of its junction with Vermont Route 313.



PROJECT COMPLETION: Projected: October 3rd.

CONTACT US:
Elaine Ezerins
Public Information Consultant
Phone: 603-782-2460
Email: elaine.ezerins@wsp.com

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