Letter to the editor: New idea pitched for traffic bypass
I refer to your October 1 story of a public forum (Sept. 26) called by a traffic advisory task force. The discussion focused on three options to ease the truck traffic burden through Main Street, Vergennes. Ask Vergennes residents to consider a fourth option that would bypass Main Street.
This bypass would use the existing Route 22A bridge. At the northeastern end of that bridge a two-lane street could begin a truck route heading southeast along the bank of Otter Creek parallel to Water Street. This new street would continue to a point swinging north and west of Victory Street. This route would cross Water, Maple, and Green Streets to connect to New Haven Road west of Bubs Barn, thereby connecting to Route 7.
This fourth option has the advantage of no new bridge obstructing boat traffic, far shorter road construction than a western bypass, has no steep hills to navigate, is unlikely to create economic competition to Main Street, is for most of its length less a noise problem, and opens up a now hidden view of a lovely upstream Otter Creek.
David Spencer
New Haven