09/18/2026
FROM THE VT AGENCY OF TRANSPORTATION:
Sunderland U.S. Route 7
Culvert Replacement Projects
[Sunderland BM 20102 and Sunderland NH CULV(122)]
DATE: Thursday, September 17, 2026
TRAFFIC IMPACT AND DURATION: Tomorrow, Friday, September 18, at approximately 10 a.m., the temporary traffic signals at the intersection of Vermont Route 7A (VT 7A) and Vermont Route 313 (VT 313), and the intersection of VT 7A and the U.S. Route 7 (U.S. 7) Exit 2 ramps, which are currently flashing yellow, will be activated and fully operational in advance of the upcoming U.S. 7 road closure. Additionally, tomorrow, between 7 a.m. and 5 p.m., intermittent shoulder closures will occur along VT 7A between U.S. 7 Exit 2 and VT 313, as well as along VT 313 between VT 7A and U.S. 7 Exit 3 to allow crews to uncover detour signage. A uniformed traffic officer will accompany this mobile work zone.
Beginning at 6 a.m. on Saturday, September 19, the contractor will begin installing traffic control measures to establish the closure of U.S. 7 southbound at Exit 3 in Arlington. By approximately 6:30 a.m., crews will relocate to Exit 2 in Bennington to continue installing traffic control measures to set up the closure for U.S. 7 northbound traffic. U.S. 7 will be fully closed to traffic between Exit 2 in Bennington and Exit 3 in Arlington by 7 a.m. Saturday morning.
From 7 a.m. on Saturday, September 19, through 7 a.m. on Saturday, October 3, U.S. 7 between Exit 2 in Bennington, VT, and Exit 3 in Arlington, VT, will be fully closed to traffic to allow for pre-cast culvert installation and roadway work. U.S. 7 traffic will be maintained via an off-site detour route along VT 7A and VT 313.
U.S. 7 northbound traffic approaching the closure from south of Exit 2 in Bennington will be 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 will be 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 intersections of VT 7A and VT 313 in Arlington and at 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.
A Traffic Alert will be issued in advance of the road closure. Construction Updates will be provided throughout the closure 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: Tomorrow, the contractor will continue preparations for the upcoming U.S. 7 road closure, including activating the temporary traffic signals and uncovering detour signage along the designated detour route.
On Saturday, between 6 a.m. and 7 a.m., crews will implement traffic control measures and close U.S. 7, beginning at Exit 3 in Arlington and completing the closure at Exit 2 in Bennington.
Once the road closure is in place, crews will excavate the roadway and underlying materials to remove the existing culverts over the weekend. Installation of the new precast culverts is scheduled for Monday through Thursday, followed by backfilling operations beginning next Friday and continuing through the weekend. Paving is expected to begin Monday, September 28, weather permitting.
