Gridlock in Bennington: Bridge Closures, Roundabout Overhauls, and Sewer Repairs Stall Commuters

BENNINGTON, Vt. NewsWK — Commuters and downtown visitors are facing a perfect storm of traffic delays this week as several major state and municipal infrastructure projects reach critical phases simultaneously. Navigating town has become a test of patience, with full road closures, detours, and lane restrictions squeezing traffic across key corridors.

State and local highway officials are urging drivers to plan for extra travel time, remain alert in work zones, or seek alternate routes entirely.

The Main Street Bottleneck: Bridge 6 Replacement

The most significant disruptor to downtown transit remains the full closure of VT 9/Main Street between Morgan and Beech streets. Crews from the Vermont Agency of Transportation (AOT) are in the thick of a complete replacement of Bridge 6.

The closure, which began in mid-April, has completely severed a primary east-west artery through town. Beech Street and Morgan Street also remain entirely closed at their intersections with Main Street, barring all access to the main roadway.

• The Timeline: State updates confirm the strict detour will remain in place through mid-June, at which point the road is expected to reopen. However, local drivers won’t be completely out of the woods; the overall project requires several additional months to finish, meaning intermittent lane closures will linger through the summer.
• Business Access: Local officials emphasize that despite the gridlock, prominent local businesses at the edge of the zone—including the Buck Stop Mini-Mart, the local gas station, and the TenneyBrook Car Wash—remain open and accessible via Beech Street.

VT 67A “Peanut” Roundabout Moving Traffiic North

On the northern side of town, construction on the state’s highly anticipated “peanut” roundabout at the intersection of VT 67A, College Drive, and Matteson Road (Rice Lane) is entering its final stretch.

Contractors have been building out splitter islands and vital subsurface drainage infrastructure, forcing a total closure of the side-street intersections.

• The Latest Update: According to the latest AOT construction reports, College Drive and Matteson Road will remain closed at VT 67A until noon on Friday, May 29.
• The Shift: Commuters can look forward to a major milestone this weekend. Once the intersections reopen on Friday afternoon, state officials report that VT 67A traffic will officially shift north onto the new roundabout configuration. Final paving, line striping, and landscaping will continue toward a final completion date later this summer.

Local Headaches: Beech, Merson, and Depot Streets

Adding to the state-level detours, the Town of Bennington Public Works department has kicked off several highly localized projects that are complicating neighborhood travel.

• Beech Street Rehabilitation: An extensive, eight-years-in-the-making overhaul of Beech Street between South Branch Street and Main Street has officially transitioned to town control following the completion of utility pole relocations. Town highway crews have begun a full rehabilitation of the corridor, including updating all drainage, curbs, and installing a new five-foot-wide sidewalk. Beech Street is currently reduced to one lane and will remain that way for the next several weeks.
• Merson Street Sewer Work: Merson Street is completely closed to through-traffic between South Street and Jefferson Street this week. Town crews are working rapidly to replace a failing section of the sewer main. Only local residential traffic is being accommodated.
• Depot Street Bridge Closure: Looking just slightly ahead, local officials are warning drivers that the Depot Street Bridge (located between GBCS and Walgreens) is slated for a minimum eight-week full closure. Town crews are preparing to completely remove and replace the 100-year-old bridge decking. Preliminary tree clearing has wrapped up, and the full road closure is expected to take effect in the coming days, stretching through mid-July or later depending on the structural integrity of the underlying abutments.

Bennington Traffic Survival Guide:
• East/West Commutes: Avoid Main St near Beech St; utilize the signed state detour.
• North Bennington: Follow detour signs via Route 7 and Route 7A to bypass the 67A roundabout zone until Friday afternoon.
• Neighborhood Speeds: Expect heavy equipment and flaggers on Beech, Merson, and Welling roads. Drive slow.