Closing downtown Middlebury for the bridge construction has gotten a lot of negative press, but I think it could be a big boost for the downtown. Restaurants could offer outdoor dining, and there could be opportunities for music (concerts and busking), sidewalk sales, and pop-up events to occur on Main Street.
It’s true that people won’t be able to park right at their destination, but walking is good exercise and promotes a healthy lifestyle. If you go to most other cities and towns around Vermont, you do have to park and walk to your destination.
If marketed properly, this could be seen as an opportunity to bring people to Middlebury to enjoy the new walkable downtown.
Colleen Schuster
Bristol