Vermont Route 289
Encyclopedia
Vermont Route 289 is a state highway
located within the town of Essex
in Chittenden County, Vermont
, United States
. It is a 3.94 miles (6.3 km) long limited-access highway that extends from VT 2A southeast to VT 117 on the north bank of the Winooski River
. Most of VT 289 is a two-lane undivided highway.
VT 289 opened to traffic in October 1993 and comprises part of the Chittenden County Circumferential Highway, a proposed partial beltway around the northern and eastern suburbs of Burlington
. As proposed, the highway is to begin at VT 127
in Colchester
and end at Interstate 89 in Williston
.
. The route heads eastward through a deep rock cut
as it bypasses the village
of Essex Junction
to the north. After 0.5 mile (0.80467 km), the rock cut gives way to a mixture of forests and open fields. VT 289 narrows from three to two lanes as it curves southeast to interchange with VT 15
. East of VT 15, the highway veers eastward to meet Essex Way, then gradually turns to the south toward the Winooski River
as it traverses several small hills.
Midway between Essex Way and the riverbank, several unused ramps intended for an interchange with Allen Martin Parkway extend outward from VT 289. The highway continues south to the Winooski River, where it terminates at a partial interchange with VT 117 east of Essex Junction. VT 289 is the only road in Vermont
to have mile-based exit numbering.
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Plans for a partial beltway around the northern and eastern fringes of Burlington
first surfaced in the late 1970s. The limited-access highway was initially intended to be 15.8 miles (25.4 km) long and four lanes wide, with two in each direction. After the United States Congress
allocated $50 million (equivalent to $ in ) to the project in 1982, the highway was intended to be built as Interstate 289. The highway, named the Chittenden County Circumferential Highway, was to start at VT 127
in Colchester
and travel southeast to Interstate 89 in Williston
. Due to a lack of funding, it was to be initially constructed as a two-lane expressway. One of the main concerns that this road was to alleviate was the traffic congestion plaguing an intersection in the center of Essex Junction
.
In 1986, a final Environmental Impact Statement
was co-released by the United States Department of Transportation
and the Vermont Agency of Transportation
(VTrans). Potential consequences of building a highway that met Interstate Highway standards
in the area included noise impact on residential areas and disruption around archaeologically sensitive areas in the right-of-way. I-289 was effectively redesignated VT 289 when the Vermont General Assembly
added the road to the state highway system that same year.
In planning, the road was divided into ten alphabetical segments, A through J, ordered from southeast to northwest. Segments C, D, E, and F in Essex
were completed and opened to traffic in October 1993.
filed a notice of intent to complete an Environmental Impact Statement
(EIS) on segments A and B of the proposed route; that is, the section between Interstate 89 in Williston
and the current southern terminus at VT 117 in Essex
. This process has included meetings with the public to discuss the proposed project, as well assess alternatives. Some of the "short-list" include placing rotaries
along VT 2A, or placing traffic lights along VT 289, when built. On August 3, 2007, a draft EIS was made available to the public. As planned, there would be one intermediate interchange on this segment of highway with IBM Road.
In February 2006, three separate public forums were held to discuss alternatives from the above short list and to allow the public to voice their concerns about present traffic situations. The first forum discussed VT 2A, which has become an arterial road
due to substantial development in the late 1990s and early 2000s around I-89 exit 12 in Williston. It also serves as an artery for IBM
workers coming from the south and east. As a result, traffic on the highway has increased, and the road was quickly altered (additional lanes, lights, etc.) to accommodate what was then seen as a temporary problem.
A second forum focused on "Five Corners", the intersection in the center of Essex Junction
. Concerns voiced included the fact that the intersection is the junction of three major state highways—VT 2A, VT 15
, and VT 117—in a densely populated town center. While there was support for the construction of VT 289, others suggested that construction of the highway would result in neglect of the local roads and that the highway would be built as opposed to a bicycle and pedestrian bridge on VT 2A over the Winooski River
.
A final forum was held on February 9, 2006 to discuss the actual proposed highway. Most comments at this forum were concerned with aesthetics, such as the implementation of noise barrier
s. Also discussed were future concerns, such as speculation on further growth in the area and the potential for VT 289 to be expanded into a four-lane highway.
in Colchester
. As proposed, there would be two intermediate interchanges along this section with I-89 and with Severance Road, a local highway providing access to U.S. Route 2 and U.S. Route 7.
, Chittenden County
. Mileage is measured from the proposed western terminus of VT 289 at VT 127
in Colchester
.
{| class=wikitable
!Mile
!Exit
!Destinations
!Notes
|-
|7.86
|7
|
|Westbound exit and eastbound entrance
|-
|9.50
|9
|
|
|-
|9.90
|10
|Essex Way
|
|- bgcolor="#d3d3d3"
|11.07
|11
|Allen Martin Parkway
|Exit is marked in the VTrans route log but has not been constructed
|-
|11.80
|12
|
|Eastbound exit and westbound entrance
State highway
State highway, state road or state route can refer to one of three related concepts, two of them related to a state or provincial government in a country that is divided into states or provinces :#A...
located within the town of Essex
Essex, Vermont
Essex is a town in Chittenden County, Vermont, United States. The population was 19,587 at the 2010 census.By population, Essex is the largest town in Vermont, and the second-largest municipality .-Government:...
in Chittenden County, Vermont
Chittenden County, Vermont
Chittenden County is a county located in the U.S. state of Vermont. As of 2010, the population was 156,545. Its shire town is Burlington. Chittenden is the most populous county in the state, with more than twice as many residents as Vermont's second-most populous county, Rutland.Chittenden County...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. It is a 3.94 miles (6.3 km) long limited-access highway that extends from VT 2A southeast to VT 117 on the north bank of the Winooski River
Winooski River
The Winooski River is a tributary of Lake Champlain, approximately long, in northern Vermont in the United States. Although not Vermont's longest river, it is one of the state's most significant, forming a major valley way from Lake Champlain through the Green Mountains towards the Connecticut...
. Most of VT 289 is a two-lane undivided highway.
VT 289 opened to traffic in October 1993 and comprises part of the Chittenden County Circumferential Highway, a proposed partial beltway around the northern and eastern suburbs of Burlington
Burlington, Vermont
Burlington is the largest city in the U.S. state of Vermont and the shire town of Chittenden County. Burlington lies south of the U.S.-Canadian border and some south of Montreal....
. As proposed, the highway is to begin at VT 127
Vermont Route 127
Vermont Route 127 is a state highway in Chittenden County, Vermont, United States. It currently exists in two segments: a signed, locally-maintained portion in the city of Burlington and the town of Colchester, and an unsigned, state-maintained portion within the town of Colchester. The...
in Colchester
Colchester, Vermont
Colchester is a town in Chittenden County, Vermont, United States. The population was 17,067 at the 2010 census. It is the fourth-largest municipality and second-largest town in Vermont by population.-Geography:...
and end at Interstate 89 in Williston
Williston, Vermont
Williston is a town in Chittenden County, Vermont, United States. The population was 8,698 at the 2010 census, an increase of over 1,000 people since the 2000 census...
.
Route description
VT 289 begins at a partial interchange with VT 2A in EssexEssex, Vermont
Essex is a town in Chittenden County, Vermont, United States. The population was 19,587 at the 2010 census.By population, Essex is the largest town in Vermont, and the second-largest municipality .-Government:...
. The route heads eastward through a deep rock cut
Cut (earthmoving)
In civil engineering, a cut or cutting is where soil or rock material from a hill or mountain is cut out to make way for a canal, road or railway line....
as it bypasses the village
Village (Vermont)
In the U.S. state of Vermont, villages are named communities located within the boundaries of an incorporated town. Villages may be incorporated or unincorporated....
of Essex Junction
Essex Junction, Vermont
Essex Junction is a village in the town of Essex in Chittenden County, Vermont, United States. The population was 8,591 at the 2000 census. It was incorporated on November 15, 1892....
to the north. After 0.5 mile (0.80467 km), the rock cut gives way to a mixture of forests and open fields. VT 289 narrows from three to two lanes as it curves southeast to interchange with VT 15
Vermont Route 15
Vermont Route 15 is an east–west state highway in northern Vermont, United States. Its western terminus is at U.S. Route 2 and U.S. Route 7 in Winooski and its eastern terminus is at US 2 in Danville. It runs for and is known as the Grand Army of the Republic Highway.Its numbering originates from...
. East of VT 15, the highway veers eastward to meet Essex Way, then gradually turns to the south toward the Winooski River
Winooski River
The Winooski River is a tributary of Lake Champlain, approximately long, in northern Vermont in the United States. Although not Vermont's longest river, it is one of the state's most significant, forming a major valley way from Lake Champlain through the Green Mountains towards the Connecticut...
as it traverses several small hills.
Midway between Essex Way and the riverbank, several unused ramps intended for an interchange with Allen Martin Parkway extend outward from VT 289. The highway continues south to the Winooski River, where it terminates at a partial interchange with VT 117 east of Essex Junction. VT 289 is the only road in Vermont
Vermont
Vermont is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. The state ranks 43rd in land area, , and 45th in total area. Its population according to the 2010 census, 630,337, is the second smallest in the country, larger only than Wyoming. It is the only New England...
to have mile-based exit numbering.
History
Burlington, Vermont
Burlington is the largest city in the U.S. state of Vermont and the shire town of Chittenden County. Burlington lies south of the U.S.-Canadian border and some south of Montreal....
first surfaced in the late 1970s. The limited-access highway was initially intended to be 15.8 miles (25.4 km) long and four lanes wide, with two in each direction. After the United States Congress
United States Congress
The United States Congress is the bicameral legislature of the federal government of the United States, consisting of the Senate and the House of Representatives. The Congress meets in the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C....
allocated $50 million (equivalent to $ in ) to the project in 1982, the highway was intended to be built as Interstate 289. The highway, named the Chittenden County Circumferential Highway, was to start at VT 127
Vermont Route 127
Vermont Route 127 is a state highway in Chittenden County, Vermont, United States. It currently exists in two segments: a signed, locally-maintained portion in the city of Burlington and the town of Colchester, and an unsigned, state-maintained portion within the town of Colchester. The...
in Colchester
Colchester, Vermont
Colchester is a town in Chittenden County, Vermont, United States. The population was 17,067 at the 2010 census. It is the fourth-largest municipality and second-largest town in Vermont by population.-Geography:...
and travel southeast to Interstate 89 in Williston
Williston, Vermont
Williston is a town in Chittenden County, Vermont, United States. The population was 8,698 at the 2010 census, an increase of over 1,000 people since the 2000 census...
. Due to a lack of funding, it was to be initially constructed as a two-lane expressway. One of the main concerns that this road was to alleviate was the traffic congestion plaguing an intersection in the center of Essex Junction
Essex Junction, Vermont
Essex Junction is a village in the town of Essex in Chittenden County, Vermont, United States. The population was 8,591 at the 2000 census. It was incorporated on November 15, 1892....
.
In 1986, a final Environmental Impact Statement
Environmental impact statement
An environmental impact statement , under United States environmental law, is a document required by the National Environmental Policy Act for certain actions "significantly affecting the quality of the human environment". An EIS is a tool for decision making...
was co-released by the United States Department of Transportation
United States Department of Transportation
The United States Department of Transportation is a federal Cabinet department of the United States government concerned with transportation. It was established by an act of Congress on October 15, 1966, and began operation on April 1, 1967...
and the Vermont Agency of Transportation
Vermont Agency of Transportation
The Vermont Agency of Transportation is a Vermont executive agency . Its purpose is to develop and execute policy on transportation for the U.S. state of Vermont. The agency was created in 1979 by combining the departments of Highway, Motor Vehicles, Aeronautics and Public Transit...
(VTrans). Potential consequences of building a highway that met Interstate Highway standards
Interstate Highway standards
Standards for Interstate Highways in the United States are defined by the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials in the publication A Policy on Design Standards - Interstate System...
in the area included noise impact on residential areas and disruption around archaeologically sensitive areas in the right-of-way. I-289 was effectively redesignated VT 289 when the Vermont General Assembly
Vermont General Assembly
The Vermont General Assembly is the legislative body of the U.S. state of Vermont. The Legislature is formally known as the "General Assembly," but the style of "Legislature" is commonly used, including by the body itself...
added the road to the state highway system that same year.
In planning, the road was divided into ten alphabetical segments, A through J, ordered from southeast to northwest. Segments C, D, E, and F in Essex
Essex, Vermont
Essex is a town in Chittenden County, Vermont, United States. The population was 19,587 at the 2010 census.By population, Essex is the largest town in Vermont, and the second-largest municipality .-Government:...
were completed and opened to traffic in October 1993.
Segments A and B
On November 19, 2004, the United States Department of TransportationUnited States Department of Transportation
The United States Department of Transportation is a federal Cabinet department of the United States government concerned with transportation. It was established by an act of Congress on October 15, 1966, and began operation on April 1, 1967...
filed a notice of intent to complete an Environmental Impact Statement
Environmental impact statement
An environmental impact statement , under United States environmental law, is a document required by the National Environmental Policy Act for certain actions "significantly affecting the quality of the human environment". An EIS is a tool for decision making...
(EIS) on segments A and B of the proposed route; that is, the section between Interstate 89 in Williston
Williston, Vermont
Williston is a town in Chittenden County, Vermont, United States. The population was 8,698 at the 2010 census, an increase of over 1,000 people since the 2000 census...
and the current southern terminus at VT 117 in Essex
Essex, Vermont
Essex is a town in Chittenden County, Vermont, United States. The population was 19,587 at the 2010 census.By population, Essex is the largest town in Vermont, and the second-largest municipality .-Government:...
. This process has included meetings with the public to discuss the proposed project, as well assess alternatives. Some of the "short-list" include placing rotaries
Roundabout
A roundabout is the name for a road junction in which traffic moves in one direction around a central island. The word dates from the early 20th century. Roundabouts are common in many countries around the world...
along VT 2A, or placing traffic lights along VT 289, when built. On August 3, 2007, a draft EIS was made available to the public. As planned, there would be one intermediate interchange on this segment of highway with IBM Road.
In February 2006, three separate public forums were held to discuss alternatives from the above short list and to allow the public to voice their concerns about present traffic situations. The first forum discussed VT 2A, which has become an arterial road
Arterial road
An arterial road, or arterial thoroughfare, is a high-capacity urban road. The primary function of an arterial road is to deliver traffic from collector roads to freeways, and between urban centres at the highest level of service possible. As such, many arteries are limited-access roads, or feature...
due to substantial development in the late 1990s and early 2000s around I-89 exit 12 in Williston. It also serves as an artery for IBM
IBM
International Business Machines Corporation or IBM is an American multinational technology and consulting corporation headquartered in Armonk, New York, United States. IBM manufactures and sells computer hardware and software, and it offers infrastructure, hosting and consulting services in areas...
workers coming from the south and east. As a result, traffic on the highway has increased, and the road was quickly altered (additional lanes, lights, etc.) to accommodate what was then seen as a temporary problem.
A second forum focused on "Five Corners", the intersection in the center of Essex Junction
Essex Junction, Vermont
Essex Junction is a village in the town of Essex in Chittenden County, Vermont, United States. The population was 8,591 at the 2000 census. It was incorporated on November 15, 1892....
. Concerns voiced included the fact that the intersection is the junction of three major state highways—VT 2A, VT 15
Vermont Route 15
Vermont Route 15 is an east–west state highway in northern Vermont, United States. Its western terminus is at U.S. Route 2 and U.S. Route 7 in Winooski and its eastern terminus is at US 2 in Danville. It runs for and is known as the Grand Army of the Republic Highway.Its numbering originates from...
, and VT 117—in a densely populated town center. While there was support for the construction of VT 289, others suggested that construction of the highway would result in neglect of the local roads and that the highway would be built as opposed to a bicycle and pedestrian bridge on VT 2A over the Winooski River
Winooski River
The Winooski River is a tributary of Lake Champlain, approximately long, in northern Vermont in the United States. Although not Vermont's longest river, it is one of the state's most significant, forming a major valley way from Lake Champlain through the Green Mountains towards the Connecticut...
.
A final forum was held on February 9, 2006 to discuss the actual proposed highway. Most comments at this forum were concerned with aesthetics, such as the implementation of noise barrier
Noise barrier
A noise barrier is an exterior structure designed to protect sensitive land uses from noise pollution...
s. Also discussed were future concerns, such as speculation on further growth in the area and the potential for VT 289 to be expanded into a four-lane highway.
Segments G through J
Segments G through J comprise the proposed western extension of VT 289 to VT 127Vermont Route 127
Vermont Route 127 is a state highway in Chittenden County, Vermont, United States. It currently exists in two segments: a signed, locally-maintained portion in the city of Burlington and the town of Colchester, and an unsigned, state-maintained portion within the town of Colchester. The...
in Colchester
Colchester, Vermont
Colchester is a town in Chittenden County, Vermont, United States. The population was 17,067 at the 2010 census. It is the fourth-largest municipality and second-largest town in Vermont by population.-Geography:...
. As proposed, there would be two intermediate interchanges along this section with I-89 and with Severance Road, a local highway providing access to U.S. Route 2 and U.S. Route 7.
Exit list
The entire route is in EssexEssex, Vermont
Essex is a town in Chittenden County, Vermont, United States. The population was 19,587 at the 2010 census.By population, Essex is the largest town in Vermont, and the second-largest municipality .-Government:...
, Chittenden County
Chittenden County, Vermont
Chittenden County is a county located in the U.S. state of Vermont. As of 2010, the population was 156,545. Its shire town is Burlington. Chittenden is the most populous county in the state, with more than twice as many residents as Vermont's second-most populous county, Rutland.Chittenden County...
. Mileage is measured from the proposed western terminus of VT 289 at VT 127
Vermont Route 127
Vermont Route 127 is a state highway in Chittenden County, Vermont, United States. It currently exists in two segments: a signed, locally-maintained portion in the city of Burlington and the town of Colchester, and an unsigned, state-maintained portion within the town of Colchester. The...
in Colchester
Colchester, Vermont
Colchester is a town in Chittenden County, Vermont, United States. The population was 17,067 at the 2010 census. It is the fourth-largest municipality and second-largest town in Vermont by population.-Geography:...
.
{| class=wikitable
!Mile
!Exit
!Destinations
!Notes
|-
|7.86
|7
|
|Westbound exit and eastbound entrance
|-
|9.50
|9
|
|
|-
|9.90
|10
|Essex Way
|
|- bgcolor="#d3d3d3"
|11.07
|11
|Allen Martin Parkway
|Exit is marked in the VTrans route log but has not been constructed
|-
|11.80
|12
|
|Eastbound exit and westbound entrance