Blasting Hours Extended Starting TOMORROW, Thursday, May 18 in Colchester, VT
Starting TOMORROW, Thursday, May 18, blasting hours will be extended to allow for additional blasting operations between 6:30 a.m. and 7:00 a.m. This extension will allow crews to prepare for daily blasting operations during off-peak hours when traffic volumes are low. Blasting activities will continue throughout next week along U.S. Route 2/7 (U.S. 2/7) within the project area. Blasting activities will be restricted between the hours of 6:30 a.m. and 7:00 a.m. and 9:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. outside of peak traffic hours. Crews will continue blasting along U.S. 2/7 starting just north of Whitcomb Street and working north.
This work will require lane closures along U.S. 2/7. Between the hours of 6:30 a.m. and 7:00 a.m. at least one travel lane will remain open in each direction. Between the hours of 7:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. crews will close a maximum of one lane in each direction. In addition, traffic will be temporarily impacted on U.S. 2/7 and I-89 as part of the blasting activities; more specific information is provided below. These impacts will be restricted between the hours of 6:30 a.m. and 7:00 a.m. and 9:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m., Monday through Friday.
Please check the Exit 16 DDI project website or interactive map for daily updates on blasting locations, local impacts, and estimated blasting windows. For more information on blasting activities, click here.
Blasting impacts to U.S. Route 2/7
Four minutes prior to each blasting event, Uniformed Traffic Officers (UTOs) and barricades will be placed at either end of the blasting zone on U.S. 2/7 and the I-89 offramps to prevent vehicles, pedestrians, and cyclists from entering the blasting zone. The blasting zone is anticipated to be between South Park Drive and Mountain View Drive, however, this area will be refined based on the specific blasting location. Flaggers will be present at adjacent businesses and sideroads to prevent pedestrians, cyclists, and vehicles from entering the area. Once the area is secured, the blasting event will take place. After each blasting event, a blasting specialist will clear the area before allowing users to reenter the blasting zone. The I-89 interstate offramps will be cleared before U.S. 2/7 traffic is released. Wait times are not anticipated to exceed 10 minutes.
Blasting impacts to Interstate 89
Four minutes prior to each blasting event, UTOs and SDI construction vehicles will initiate a rolling roadblock between Exit 14 and 17 along I-89 northbound and southbound. Rolling roadblocks slow traffic down to create a gap in traffic to allow the blasting event to take place safely. A pilot vehicle will follow the last vehicle impacted by the rolling roadblock to inform the team once the area in the blasting zone is secured. The rolling roadblock will continue until the hard stop location is reached. To learn more about rolling roadblocks, watch this video created by the Kansas Turnpike.
All users should expect delays and plan ahead.
