Green Mountains Loop- SR 105 Construction- Summer 2021

[ntaylor]

From VT local Jean-Pierre Mittaz:
Route 105, between Richford and Jay Mountain has 8 miles of road construction, with currently no pavement, at all, over this entire distance. I believe this construction will last through the summer. I made it, no flat tire, but it was painful.

Here is the project webpage, which specifies that the project will last from July-Fall 2021:
https://resources.vtrans.vermont.gov/factsheet/default.aspx?pin=10B230

Currently, there is a detour option using SR 105A and E. Richford Slide Rd., but it appears to enter Canada for a very brief distance. This would not be viable currently since the border is closed.

I will update this post as more information becomes available.

Nathan
ACA

[chatgeo.photos]

Hi,

Thanks for this heads up.  I start the GML on Monday and will hit this stretch on Day 2.   I looked at the VT Trans website and it confirms what you say for the most part.  I called the road engineer:

Matthew Birchard
(802) 498-8348
matthew.birchard@vermont.gov

He picked up on a late Friday afternoon!! And he was very nice and helpful.  Yes the road is all dirt.  He says it's compact with some gravel / pot holes since it's a reclaim project.  He did say that he's had bikers on his roads getting reclaimed before and while harder, he says the riders have been able to manage.   I mentioned a detour and he said they did not have one set up.  I asked about 105A and the border and he wasn't sure. The border is open to essential personnel - which bikers are not unfortunately.  May have to grin and bear it.

[chatgeo.photos]

Hi,

I just finished the GML and came across the construction about a week ago, so this info might be a bit dated. 

The construction starts soon after Richford, earlier than I had thought.  At first, the dirt and gravel looked pretty rough and I was searching for alternatives on my phone but had none.  So I started slowly and soon the dirt became more compact and traffic eased considerably so it was manageable.

I had thought about the 105a detour and through the small road spur off of that, but that option was three miles in on dirt so I just kept going on the original 105 route.  The climb does start on dirt but ends about a third of the way up.

Thanks

Chuck