Putney Road plan scaled back, roundabouts removed

The work would still reshape the roughly 1.25-mile stretch of Route 5 with a range of traffic and safety improvements.

State transportation officials have revised the Putney Road reconstruction proposal so it no longer calls for four additional roundabouts, a change that reflects cost and permitting concerns and pushes the expected start of work to 2032.

The updated plan was outlined Tuesday at a Select Board meeting, where Vermont Agency of Transportation project manager Bruce Martin said the redesign remains focused on mobility and safer pedestrian access along a corridor that currently lacks much of that infrastructure. Engineers met with town officials in June or July to review the revised concept.

The work would still reshape the roughly 1.25-mile stretch of Route 5 with a range of traffic and safety improvements. Dennis Vertiyev, a consultant on the project, said the roadway would be rebuilt with 11-foot travel lanes, 5-foot shoulders that function as shared bike space before Town Crier Drive, and a 5-foot shared-use path on the left side after Town Crier Drive and on the right side after M&T Bank.

Other features in the proposal include a two-way left-turn lane beginning at Noah's Lane, intended to keep turning traffic from backing up through travel lanes, along with 5-foot grass strips where room allows and added turning lanes at intersections.

Traffic signals are slated for upgrades at Hannaford and Black Mountain Plaza, and a new signal is planned for Chickering Drive. Vertiyev said the equipment would all be replaced with new systems and timed together.

The design also calls for bus pull-off areas so transit stops would not interfere with vehicle flow, plus shelters near Town Crier Drive, Hannaford and O'Reilly Auto Parts. To reduce speeding, the plan includes mountable bump-outs at Technology Drive and Advance Auto Parts. Vertiyev said the narrower sections are meant to discourage fast driving while still allowing trucks and plow operations to pass safely.

Pedestrian crossings would be reinforced with rectangular rapid flashing beacons, similar to the one now in use at Town Crier Drive. Those devices use activated flashing lights along with signage to get drivers to slow down. The project team also proposed infiltration basins and additional stormwater drainage improvements.

The latest version of the plan is expected to be reviewed further by the Select Board, which will also allow time for public comment before deciding whether to support it.

The new approach is a departure from earlier versions of the project, which had included four single-lane roundabouts and drew attention as an unusual idea for Vermont. Former board member Dick DeGray noted that town officials were briefed on Putney Road updates back in 2007, with a then-projected start in 2018. By 2017, the roundabout concept was part of the discussion. Martin said safety continues to guide the planning as the corridor moves toward its next phase.