BURLINGTON,
VT—June 30, 2016 The Vermont Agency of Transportation (AOT)
project manager calls the Shelburne Street roundabout project the
most difficult in his 17 year career because of the “spaghetti”
of utilities underground.
Engineer
Michael LaCroix, P.E. gave a “very likely“ roundabout
installation for 2020 at the high accident list intersection where
two pedestrian injuries were recorded during 2011-2014. when it rated
within the 17 highest pedestrian crash locations in Burlington.
LaCroix said he checked the crash performance of the three Route 15
Lamoille County roundabouts (Cambridge, Hyde Park, and Morrissville)
and found a 50% reduction in crashes. He pointed out that because of
the lower speeds at a roundabout that crashes which do occur are less
severe on average than those at signs or signals. The project
construction takes two years with the “hoped for” start in 2019
devoted to the utilities work and 2020 the actual construction of the
roundabout.
About 20
residents and Department of Public Works (DPW) staff attend the June
29 meeting where LaCroix agreed to periodic updates at the request of
City Councilor Karen Paul who explained that the project which goes
back to 2008 has been very difficult to get information about since.
In the most recent AOT report the intersection recorded 50 crashes
over five years. LaCroix stressed
the project is a collaborative one with DPW where Laura Wheelock is
project manager. LaCroix's unit is doing the design work. He
said the project is an “absolute” priority and continues as first
or second among the dozen projects assigned to his unit. LaCroix who
meets with DPW every three months saw no reason that updates on
project status can be done regularly.
LaCroix
said once the utilities plans are worked out with each utility
expected over the next months the regular steps of acquisition of
right-of-way occurs in 2017 and 2018 along with final design elements
take place.
Travel
time may be somewhat longer for those traveling St. Paul/Shelburne
Streets but less for those entering from the other three streets,
Locust, Ledge and South Willard.
About
half the cost of the $2-$4 million project involves underground
utilities work. Utilities include water, electric, at least two
cable lines, and Vermont Gas—all with various connections and
locations at the intersection involving five streets. Added to this
work are what might be termed pockets to take storm water runoff and
treat if before joining a pipe which directly enters Lake Champlain.
