Vermont Route 62
Encyclopedia
Vermont Route 62 is a short state highway
in Washington County, Vermont
, United States
. The road was designed to serve as a connector between Interstate 89 and the industrial and commercial centers of Berlin
and Barre, akin to the three-digit spur interstates that are present throughout the United States
. Unlike those roads, however, Route 62 is not a fully grade separated limited-access highway, having five signaled intersections with local roads over the course of its route.
When established in 1970 , it was not initially assigned a route number, but informally known as the Berlin Hospital Connector, . Until the mid 1970s, the road ended adjacent to Central Vermont Medical Center
, connecting to the Berlin State Highway, which runs a southeasterly course to the Edward F. Knapp State Airport
. It was only after 1974 , once the road had been extended to its present course, that it became known as Route 62.
This road, as with other new arterial road construction, spurred further development around the Berlin Corners area, an unincorporated village within the town that is generally considered the main village of Berlin. Within Barre, most of the road passed through areas either previously developed, or where development was considered impractical because of the terrain.
Today, the road is a heavily used artery, relative to the population of the area, with a maximum AADT of 18,000 vehicles, as of a 2008 estimate . Even with the road being mostly restricted to 50 miles (80.5 km) per hour, as with the majority of other State-maintained thoroughfares in Vermont, and with no grade separation between it and other roads, the highway is designed to enable drivers to maintain a constant speed throughout their journey. Signage is generally sized and placed in the manner of an Interstate Highway, and with three exceptions - one in Berlin and two in Barre - all turns are executed from roadway dedicated to that purpose, be those lanes with exclusive signals, or in two cases, ramps.
with two through lanes in each direction. For the first 0.5 mile (0.80467 km), the road travels through a wooded swampland before intersecting with Paine Turnpike.
Paine Turnpike is a thoroughfare from Montpelier into and through Berlin Corners, an unincorporated village which can be partially seen from the intersection with Route 62. In the village itself are the Town Hall, police headquarters and some of the town's oldest homes, including one which was purportedly a stopover on the Underground Railroad
.
Closer to the intersection are one of the town's Fire Departments, as well as the town's Elementary School
. With regard to commercial development, a motel
and restaurant
are amongst the longer-standing establishments, each overlooking the roadway. A well used, but sparsely signed Park and Ride
lot is on the other side of the highway.
From there, the road continues east, curving north before the next intersection. As opposed to the previous intersection, this one, with Berlin Mall Road, is completely undeveloped, surrounded throughout by woods. The southwest corner of the intersection is land that belongs to the Elementary School, within which is a nature trail used by educators to educate students about ecology and the pre-development environment of the area.
Even as the road ostensibly is an exclusive service road to the Berlin Mall, it is actually a town thoroughfare, that, while directly between the mall and its parking lots, continues past a few auto dealerships and intersects with another town road. There is a dedicated left turn lane and signal for eastbound (away from Interstate) traffic. While opposing traffic can turn right, any traffic to the mall from that direction is provided with alternate methods further back to get there.
and FedEx.
Approaching the intersection on East 62, drivers are advised to choose a travel lane based on whether they are going to Barre or Montpelier
. This is because approximately 1000 feet (304.8 m) after the Fisher Rd./Airport Rd. intersection, the road intersects with the termini of the Berlin State Highway. While there are dedicated left turn lanes in each direction, the right-turn lanes lead to short ramps for traffic to exit the road without having to come to an absolute stop.
The setup of this intersection, along with the proximity of the Berlin State Highway split, makes this section of road problematic for westbound (towards I-89) travelers (see diagram at left). While Route 62 maintains two through lanes, drivers entering from the Berlin State Highway merge with the highway at a well signed and routinely enforced yield
- the nature of the traffic on the main road usually means those drivers are coming to a complete stop before entering. Two things present potential complications -
In opposition to the weaving and other conflicts in the westbound road, eastbound travelers have it much easier. As drivers have been provided ample warning prior to Fisher Rd., with an additional overhead gantry between the two intersections, the right travel lane becomes an exit-only lane for the Berlin State Highway. Additionally, an overly wide hard shoulder continues for a short distance after the split, in case a driver happened to be stuck in the wrong lane or changed their mind at the last second.
At the bottom of the hill, the roadway re-divides and resumes having two lanes in each direction. Through this area, the roadway is completely undeveloped, as the road traverses a flat that is only the width of the road. Drivers can look out and over the eastern edge of development, once exclusively large stately homes, but now some businesses and smaller starter homes, along Route 302 in Berlin.
The road enters a more developed area of Barre city, and the speed limit is reduced to 40 miles (64.4 km) per hour. Shortly after is an intersection with Berlin St., the historic road from the North End of Barre to Berlin (hence its name). Turning left from East 62 onto Berlin St. is a shortcut to Route 302, particularly west, used by some locals. However, at that street's intersection with 302, a large building creates a significant blind spot
requiring drivers to partially obstruct traffic on 302 to see around it. A traffic island at the intersection that does not prohibit, but by its design discourages, all left turns at the intersection, makes it worth a driver's time to continue on Route 62. As Route 62 has supplanted the original purpose of Berlin St., right turns from either direction are usually taken by local traffic only. Thus, unlike the other intersections, right-turning traffic shares the travel lane with through traffic.
From Berlin St. to the road's terminus, the road somewhat resembles expressways in more urban cities, with the elevated nature of the road above all other terrain (though not on an actual constructed skyway
), and the obvious appearance of the road being placed there long after the surrounding streets and buildings. The road continues east until a sharp turn north right before the final intersection. At this point the roadway crosses an occasionally used railroad, and Route 62 technically ends about 50 feet from the intersection with Vermont Route 14
and US 302, where the speed limit drops to the city-wide mandated 25 miles (40.2 km) per hour . This intersection is prone to backups and delay from all approaches, as it is the convergence of three signed roads, two of which form a concurrency east into the main commercial area
of Barre. Adding to the delay is the fact that no dedicated turn lanes exist from Route 62 - this being more a space constriction (abutting properties) versus a deliberate choice by the city.
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...
in Washington County, Vermont
Washington County, Vermont
Washington County is a county located in the U.S. state of Vermont. As of 2010, the population was 59,534; Vermont's third-most populous county after Chittenden County and Rutland County. Its shire town is Montpelier, the state capital. The center of population of Vermont is located in Washington...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The road was designed to serve as a connector between Interstate 89 and the industrial and commercial centers of Berlin
Berlin, Vermont
Berlin is a town in Washington County, Vermont, United States. The population was 2,864 at the 2000 census. Being the town between Barre, Vermont and Montpelier, Vermont, the two largest cities in the region, much of the commercial business of the region can be found in Berlin, including parts of...
and Barre, akin to the three-digit spur interstates that are present throughout the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. Unlike those roads, however, Route 62 is not a fully grade separated limited-access highway, having five signaled intersections with local roads over the course of its route.
When established in 1970 , it was not initially assigned a route number, but informally known as the Berlin Hospital Connector, . Until the mid 1970s, the road ended adjacent to Central Vermont Medical Center
Central Vermont Medical Center
Central Vermont Medical Center is the primary health care provider for 66,000 people in central Vermont.The medical staff numbers 121 physicians including nine community-based medical group practices. CVMC provide 24-hour emergency care, with 122 inpatient beds. CVMC is accredited by the Joint...
, connecting to the Berlin State Highway, which runs a southeasterly course to the Edward F. Knapp State Airport
Edward F. Knapp State Airport
Edward F. Knapp State Airport is a general aviation airport located in Berlin, Vermont, United States; it is located three miles west of the central business district of Barre. As well as serving Barre, it also serves the Montpelier region...
. It was only after 1974 , once the road had been extended to its present course, that it became known as Route 62.
This road, as with other new arterial road construction, spurred further development around the Berlin Corners area, an unincorporated village within the town that is generally considered the main village of Berlin. Within Barre, most of the road passed through areas either previously developed, or where development was considered impractical because of the terrain.
Today, the road is a heavily used artery, relative to the population of the area, with a maximum AADT of 18,000 vehicles, as of a 2008 estimate . Even with the road being mostly restricted to 50 miles (80.5 km) per hour, as with the majority of other State-maintained thoroughfares in Vermont, and with no grade separation between it and other roads, the highway is designed to enable drivers to maintain a constant speed throughout their journey. Signage is generally sized and placed in the manner of an Interstate Highway, and with three exceptions - one in Berlin and two in Barre - all turns are executed from roadway dedicated to that purpose, be those lanes with exclusive signals, or in two cases, ramps.
Interstate 89 to Berlin Mall Rd.
Route 62 starts at Exit 7 of Interstate 89 in Berlin. From that point, and for most of the road's length, it is a divided highwayDivided Highway
Divided Highway is a compilation album by American rock band The Doobie Brothers, released in 2003. . All tracks are taken from the albums Cycles and Brotherhood .-Track listing:...
with two through lanes in each direction. For the first 0.5 mile (0.80467 km), the road travels through a wooded swampland before intersecting with Paine Turnpike.
Paine Turnpike is a thoroughfare from Montpelier into and through Berlin Corners, an unincorporated village which can be partially seen from the intersection with Route 62. In the village itself are the Town Hall, police headquarters and some of the town's oldest homes, including one which was purportedly a stopover on the Underground Railroad
Underground Railroad
The Underground Railroad was an informal network of secret routes and safe houses used by 19th-century black slaves in the United States to escape to free states and Canada with the aid of abolitionists and allies who were sympathetic to their cause. The term is also applied to the abolitionists,...
.
Closer to the intersection are one of the town's Fire Departments, as well as the town's Elementary School
Elementary school
An elementary school or primary school is an institution where children receive the first stage of compulsory education known as elementary or primary education. Elementary school is the preferred term in some countries, particularly those in North America, where the terms grade school and grammar...
. With regard to commercial development, a motel
Motel
A motor hotel, or motel for short, is a hotel designed for motorists, and usually has a parking area for motor vehicles...
and restaurant
Restaurant
A restaurant is an establishment which prepares and serves food and drink to customers in return for money. Meals are generally served and eaten on premises, but many restaurants also offer take-out and food delivery services...
are amongst the longer-standing establishments, each overlooking the roadway. A well used, but sparsely signed Park and Ride
Park and ride
Park and ride facilities are car parks with connections to public transport that allow commuters and other people wishing to travel into city centres to leave their vehicles and transfer to a bus, rail system , or carpool for the rest of their trip...
lot is on the other side of the highway.
From there, the road continues east, curving north before the next intersection. As opposed to the previous intersection, this one, with Berlin Mall Road, is completely undeveloped, surrounded throughout by woods. The southwest corner of the intersection is land that belongs to the Elementary School, within which is a nature trail used by educators to educate students about ecology and the pre-development environment of the area.
Even as the road ostensibly is an exclusive service road to the Berlin Mall, it is actually a town thoroughfare, that, while directly between the mall and its parking lots, continues past a few auto dealerships and intersects with another town road. There is a dedicated left turn lane and signal for eastbound (away from Interstate) traffic. While opposing traffic can turn right, any traffic to the mall from that direction is provided with alternate methods further back to get there.
Berlin Mall Rd. to Berlin State Highway
Continuing its northerly path, the road intersects with Fisher Rd. and Airport Rd. Adjacent to the intersection is the Central Vermont Medical Center, the primary care center in the Barre/Montpelier area. Further along Fisher Rd. is the other end of Berlin Mall Rd. - most drivers from Barre turn onto there as opposed to continuing on Route 62. On Airport Rd. is the Edward F. Knapp State Airport, as well as the town's primary industrial area, with some light manufacturing facilities as well as the regional hubs for UPSUnited Parcel Service
United Parcel Service, Inc. , typically referred to by the acronym UPS, is a package delivery company. Headquartered in Sandy Springs, Georgia, United States, UPS delivers more than 15 million packages a day to 6.1 million customers in more than 220 countries and territories around the...
and FedEx.
Approaching the intersection on East 62, drivers are advised to choose a travel lane based on whether they are going to Barre or Montpelier
Montpelier, Vermont
Montpelier is a city in the U.S. state of Vermont that serves as the state capital and the shire town of Washington County. As the capital of Vermont, Montpelier is the site of the Vermont State House, seat of the legislative branch of Vermont government. The population was 7,855 at the 2010...
. This is because approximately 1000 feet (304.8 m) after the Fisher Rd./Airport Rd. intersection, the road intersects with the termini of the Berlin State Highway. While there are dedicated left turn lanes in each direction, the right-turn lanes lead to short ramps for traffic to exit the road without having to come to an absolute stop.
The setup of this intersection, along with the proximity of the Berlin State Highway split, makes this section of road problematic for westbound (towards I-89) travelers (see diagram at left). While Route 62 maintains two through lanes, drivers entering from the Berlin State Highway merge with the highway at a well signed and routinely enforced yield
Yield sign
In road transport, a ' or ' traffic sign indicates that each driver must prepare to stop if necessary to let a driver on another approach proceed. A driver who stops has yielded the right of way to another...
- the nature of the traffic on the main road usually means those drivers are coming to a complete stop before entering. Two things present potential complications -
- First, due to the proximity of the next intersection, there is no entry lane from Berlin State Highway.
- Second, traffic from Route 62 that are going toward the hospital or mall are in the process of preparing to exit onto the aforementioned ramp. Additionally, any vehicles from Berlin State Highway wanting to ultimately turn left towards the Airport have, at most, 600 feet (182.9 m) to cross the two through lanes, all while continuing uphill and usually starting from a full stop.
In opposition to the weaving and other conflicts in the westbound road, eastbound travelers have it much easier. As drivers have been provided ample warning prior to Fisher Rd., with an additional overhead gantry between the two intersections, the right travel lane becomes an exit-only lane for the Berlin State Highway. Additionally, an overly wide hard shoulder continues for a short distance after the split, in case a driver happened to be stuck in the wrong lane or changed their mind at the last second.
Berlin State Highway to Barre
While the Berlin State Highway continues the northerly path, down a long hill into a heavily developed commercial area colloquially known as 'Lower Berlin' (in deference to the elevation change), Route 62 curves east, descending the same range. While descending the hill, the roadway becomes undivided and is reduced to three lanes - one heading downhill and two heading uphill. Drivers heading downhill are afforded a view of Barre's North End and the mountainous terrain that is north and east of the city.At the bottom of the hill, the roadway re-divides and resumes having two lanes in each direction. Through this area, the roadway is completely undeveloped, as the road traverses a flat that is only the width of the road. Drivers can look out and over the eastern edge of development, once exclusively large stately homes, but now some businesses and smaller starter homes, along Route 302 in Berlin.
The road enters a more developed area of Barre city, and the speed limit is reduced to 40 miles (64.4 km) per hour. Shortly after is an intersection with Berlin St., the historic road from the North End of Barre to Berlin (hence its name). Turning left from East 62 onto Berlin St. is a shortcut to Route 302, particularly west, used by some locals. However, at that street's intersection with 302, a large building creates a significant blind spot
Blind spot
Blind spot may refer to:In ophthalmology:*Scotoma, an obscuration of the visual field*Optic disc, also known as the anatomical blind spot, the specific region of the retina where the optic nerve and blood vessels pass through to connect to the back of the eye*Blind spot , also known as the...
requiring drivers to partially obstruct traffic on 302 to see around it. A traffic island at the intersection that does not prohibit, but by its design discourages, all left turns at the intersection, makes it worth a driver's time to continue on Route 62. As Route 62 has supplanted the original purpose of Berlin St., right turns from either direction are usually taken by local traffic only. Thus, unlike the other intersections, right-turning traffic shares the travel lane with through traffic.
From Berlin St. to the road's terminus, the road somewhat resembles expressways in more urban cities, with the elevated nature of the road above all other terrain (though not on an actual constructed skyway
Skyway
In an urban setting, a skyway, catwalk, sky bridge, or skywalk is a type of pedway consisting of an enclosed or covered bridge between two buildings. This protects pedestrians from the weather. These skyways are usually owned by businesses, and are therefore not public spaces...
), and the obvious appearance of the road being placed there long after the surrounding streets and buildings. The road continues east until a sharp turn north right before the final intersection. At this point the roadway crosses an occasionally used railroad, and Route 62 technically ends about 50 feet from the intersection with Vermont Route 14
Vermont Route 14
Vermont Route 14 is a north–south state highway in northeastern Vermont, United States. It is long and extends from U.S. Route 4 and U.S. Route 5 in White River Junction to Vermont Route 100 in Newport. Between White River Junction and the city of Barre, the route parallels Interstate 89. Vermont...
and US 302, where the speed limit drops to the city-wide mandated 25 miles (40.2 km) per hour . This intersection is prone to backups and delay from all approaches, as it is the convergence of three signed roads, two of which form a concurrency east into the main commercial area
Downtown
Downtown is a term primarily used in North America by English speakers to refer to a city's core or central business district ....
of Barre. Adding to the delay is the fact that no dedicated turn lanes exist from Route 62 - this being more a space constriction (abutting properties) versus a deliberate choice by the city.