JAMAICA — The Vermont Agency of Transportation (AOT) opened a temporary bridge on Oct. 7 along Route 30 in Jamaica Village.
The new structure restores the community's vital traffic link north towards Manchester and Route 7, and south toward Brattleboro and Interstate 91.
The bridge was originally scheduled to open on Oct. 15, but construction crews were able to accelerate work so that it could be ready in time for the Columbus Day weekend.
Route 30 was severed when Tropical Storm Irene washed away a nearly 150-foot-long bridge on the site. Local traffic was able to detour around the washed-out bridge location, but the detour was not suitable for commercial vehicles or other large vehicles like motor coaches or RVs.
The temporary bridge allows all vehicles weighing up to 80,000 pounds to use Route 30 without restriction.
The bridge was one of four state highway bridges in the town closed by the storm.
The only impediment remains along Route 100, where the agency is erecting a temporary bridge scheduled to open later this month.
AOT also announced late last week that the 4-mile stretch of Route 100 that runs from Readsboro to Heartwellville has been reopened. This segment of Route 100, which connects Route 100 to Route 8, reopens the primary route between the Deerfield Valley and North Adams, Mass.
AOT officials warn that parts of that route remain gravel and more work will be needed before the road is returned to normal.
Construction crews remain out in force throughout storm-damaged areas in southern Vermont, doing work such as paving, repairing guard rail, unplugging culverts, and conducting a host of other highway repairs.
Questions regarding storm-damaged roads and bridges related to Tropical Storm Irene can be answered by calling AOT's Irene Storm Center at 1-800-Vermont. People may also visit the AOT website, where they can sign up for travel updates for their mobile phone, and follow the agency's progress on both Facebook and Twitter.