CONCORD, Mass. – The Vermont Agency of Transportation is seeking a permit from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, New England District to conduct work in waters of the U.S. to replace a bridge in North Hero and Grand Isle, Vermont. The work is proposed in Lake Champlain at the North Hero-Grand Isle Bridge along U.S. Route 2 in North Hero and Grand Isle. The purpose of the project is to replace an existing deteriorating bridge to provide a safe, efficient roadway for the traveling public.

The proposed work involves the placement of fill material in a total of 36,067 square feet (0.83 acre) of Lake Champlain in conjunction with the replacement of Bridge No. 8, a twin leaf bascule bridge between North Hero and Grand Isle, with a new twin leaf bascule bridge along the same alignment. Construction of the new bridge foundations will involve the placement of 7,748 square feet (0.18 acre) of permanent fill below the ordinary high water mark (OHWM) of Lake Champlain.

A temporary single leaf bascule bridge will be constructed to the west of the existing bridge to maintain vehicular and marine traffic during construction. A total of 21,511 square feet (0.49 acre) of temporary fill will be placed below the OHWM of the lake for the construction of the temporary bridge, installation of the new permanent bridge foundations, and installation of temporary crane and barge pads. Approximately 6,808 square feet (0.16 acre) of impact will result from removing and resetting the existing stone armored banks along the existing bridge approaches. Construction of the project is expected to last four construction seasons (anticipated 2018-2022).

A majority of the project impacts are temporary in nature and will be removed upon project completion. The project involves the replacement of an existing deficient bridge along the same alignment. Impacts have been avoided and minimized to the maximum extent practicable. It has been determined that no mitigation is necessary. The application for the federal permit was filed with the Corps in compliance with Section 404 of the Clean Water Act, which regulates the discharge or fill of material in U.S. waters, including wetlands. The public notice, with more specifics on the proposed work by the Vermont Agency of Transportation, can be viewed on the Corps website at www.nae.usace.army.mil/Missions/Regulatory/PublicNotices.aspx.

Public comments on this work proposed by the Vermont Agency of Transportation (file # NAE-2016-00933) should be forwarded no later than Dec. 21, 2017 to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, New England District, Vermont Project Office (ATTN: Angela Repella), 11 Lincoln Street, Room 210, Essex Junction, Vermont. Additional information is available from Permit Project Manager Angela Repella at 802-872-2893 or 978-318-8639 or by email to: angela.c.repella@usace.army.mil.