Vermont’s First Diverging Diamond Interchange

The Vermont Agency of Transportation (VTrans) is improving the roadway along the U.S. Routes 2/7 (U.S. 2/7) corridor, in the vicinity of Interstate 89 (I-89) Exit 16, to enhance mobility and safety in Colchester, Vermont. The project area extends from the Colchester-Winooski town line north for approximately 1 mile to just beyond the intersection of Sunderland Woods Road at U.S. 2/7. The core of the project is to reconfigure the existing tight diamond interchange to a Diverging Diamond Interchange at I-89 Exit 16.

Learn more about this and other improvements

10/17/2025

Weekly Construction Update - Friday, October 17, 2025

DATE: Friday, October 17, 2025

SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT: Blasting activities are scheduled to begin TODAY, Friday, October 17, and will continue through the end of November. Blasting activities will take place along U.S. Route 2/7 (U.S. 2/7) between South Park Drive and Mountain View Drive, with initial blasts along U.S. 2/7 between Mountain View Drive and the Interstate (I-89) northbound on-ramp, near the CVS Pharmacy. One blasting event is expected to take place each weekday (potential for two) and blasting will be restricted to daytime hours, with crews off the roadway by 3 PM. Blasting activities are weather-dependent. To learn more about drilling and blasting activities, click here.

TRAFFIC IMPACT AND DURATION: From Monday, October 20, through Friday, October 24, between 6 AM and 3 PM, U.S. 2/7 between South Park Driveway and the I-89 southbound on-ramp will have a lane closure near the Shell Gas Station, and U.S. 2/7 just north of Hercules Drive will have a lane closure, with traffic shifted near Lucky’s Trailer Supplies. Throughout the week, U.S. 2/7 between South Park Drive and Mountain View Drive and all intersecting sideroads will be shut down for approximately 10 minutes and rolling road blocks will be initiated on the I-89 between Exits 14 and 17 for each blasting event. To learn more about traffic impacts associated with blasting activities, click here.

Motorists should expect significant delays when traveling through the work zone and along adjacent roadways. Please plan ahead, leaving plenty of additional time to get to and from your destination. Whenever possible, consider alternate routes or other forms of transportation such as carpooling, ridesharing, transit, biking, or walking. Drivers should slow down, use caution, and follow flaggers and road signs.

CONSTRUCTION ACTIVITIES: Next week, crews will continue drainage work for the dry ponds being constructed on the east side of U.S. 2/7 near the I-89 southbound on-ramp and on U.S. 2/7 just north of Hercules Drive. Blasting events will take place along U.S. 2/7 between Mountain View Drive and the I-89 northbound on-ramp, near the CVS Pharmacy.

10/16/2025

Traffic Alert - Blasting Update

DATE: Thursday, October 16, 2025

Blasting Activities Scheduled to Begin Friday, October 17

The start of blasting activities has been rescheduled for Friday, October 17, and will continue through the end of November. Blasting activities will take place along U.S. Route 2/7 (U.S. 2/7) between South Park Drive and Mountain View Drive with initial blasts along U.S. 2/7 and Mountain View Drive near the CVS Pharmacy and the Interstate 89 (I-89) northbound on-ramp. Up to two blasting events will take place each weekday and will be restricted to daytime hours with crews off the roadway by 3 PM. Blasting activities are weather-dependent.

10/10/2025

Weekly Construction Update - Friday, October 10, 2025

DATE: Friday, October 10, 2025

SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT: Blasting activities are scheduled to begin on Thursday, October 16, and continue through the end of November, taking place along U.S. Route 2/7 (U.S. 2/7) between South Park Drive and Mountain View Drive within the project limits. Blasting activities will begin along U.S. 2/7 and Mountain View Drive near the CVS Pharmacy and the Interstate 89 (I-89) northbound on-ramp. Blasting events will be restricted to weekdays during daytime hours, with crews off the roadway by 3 PM. Up to two blasting events will take place each day. This work is weather-dependent. To learn more about drilling and blasting activities, click here.

TRAFFIC IMPACT AND DURATION: In observance of Indigenous Peoples’ Day, crews will be working outside of the roadway on Monday, October 13.

From Tuesday, October 14, through Friday, October 17, between 6 AM and 3 PM, U.S. 2/7 between Mountain View Drive and the I-89 northbound on-ramp, near the CVS Pharmacy, will be under lane closures and lane reductions. Lane width reductions may be in place along the Interstate 89 (I-89) southbound on-ramp. The on-ramp will remain open. Early next week, there will be lane shifts on Lower Mountain View Drive that will be in effect with traffic maintained. Starting midweek, there will be lane shifts along U.S. 2/7 between Hercules Drive and Champlain Drive. On Thursday, October 16, and Friday, October 17, U.S. 2/7 between South Park Drive and Mountain View Drive and all intersecting sideroads will be shut down for approximately 10 minutes and rolling road blocks will be initiated on the I-89 between Exits 14 and 17 for each blasting event. To learn more about traffic impacts associated with blasting activities, click here.

CONSTRUCTION ACTIVITIES: Next week, crews will continue drainage work that will take place for the dry ponds being constructed on the east side of U.S. 2/7 near the I-89 southbound on-ramp. Crews will continue to install drainage infrastructure along Lower Mountain View Drive early next week before shifting to U.S. 2/7 between Hercules Drive and Champlain Drive. Blasting events will take place on Thursday, October 16, and Friday, October 17, along U.S. 2/7 between Mountain View Drive and the I-89 northbound on-ramp, near the CVS Pharmacy.

10/3/2025

Weekly Construction Update - Friday, October 3, 2025

DATE: Friday, October 3, 2025

SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT: The Exit 16 DDI Project will be conducting drilling and blasting activities to remove hard rock and ledge below the surface of the ground that cannot be removed using mechanical methods starting this month and continuing through November. Drilling activities are anticipated to begin on Monday, October 6, in preparation for daily blasting that is anticipated to begin on Wednesday, October 15. This schedule is subject to change based on weather and the contractor’s schedule. Blasting will take place along U.S. Route 2/7 (U.S. 2/7) and along Mountain View Drive east of the CVS Pharmacy and Shaws’ driveways within the project limits. Up to two blasting events will take place a day and will be restricted to weekdays and daytime hours. Additional information will be provided in the coming weeks. To learn more about drilling and blasting activities, click here.

TRAFFIC IMPACT AND DURATION: From Monday, October 6, through Friday, October 10, between 6 AM and 3 PM, lane shifts on Lower Mountain View Drive will be in effect with traffic maintained. Lane width reductions may be in place along the Interstate 89 (I-89) southbound on-ramp. The on-ramp will remain open. U.S. 2/7 between Mountain View Drive and the I-89 northbound on-ramp, near the CVS Pharmacy, will be under lane closures and lane reductions.

In observance of Indigenous Peoples’ Day, crews will be working outside of the roadway on Monday, October 13.

CONSTRUCTION ACTIVITIES: Early next week, independent utility work will take place along Lower Mountain View Drive, followed by drainage infrastructure installation mid-week. Additional drainage work will take place on the dry ponds being constructed on the east side of U.S. 2/7 near the I-89 southbound on-ramp and just north of Hercules Drive. Throughout the week, Maine Drilling and Blasting will be on-site drilling along U.S. 2/7 between Mountain View Drive and the I-89 northbound on-ramp, near the CVS Pharmacy, in preparation for blasting activities that are anticipated to begin Wednesday, October 15.