RUTLAND, Vt. (WCAX) – After more than a decade of debate, Routes 4 and 7 in Rutland will see new traffic safety changes.
“I’m thankful to be alive to be here,” said Don Parizo, recalling the day he was struck by a truck crossing Woodstock Avenue back in 2007. “I am a victim of that. So, I like the idea of this new road diet for the safety covered. It’s not a safe road. There’s no shoulder, walking isn’t convenient, bicycles are on the sidewalk.”
After a lane change trial on Route 4 back in 2014, those same traffic safety changes could be coming to two of the busiest roads in Vermont.
Area officials are hoping to slow down traffic through what is known as a “road diet,” or reducing two lanes in each direction to one with a center change lane. With added room on the shoulders, planners will also add bike lanes.
“Having those two lanes there really encourages people to sort of weave around. And if you know they encounter somebody in front of them going the speed limit and they want to go faster, they’re going to turn right around that car and keep going,” said Ethan Pepin with the Rutland Regional Planning Commission.
VTrans has started to tear up Route 4 with paving to follow. Work on Route 7 is expected after that.
“Our roads really needed this. If you’ve traveled 7 North — or Woodstock Avenue — you know things are kind of pitted. We’ve had a lot of potholes. Glad that we’re getting construction done, glad that it’s our turn again to get this work completed and have some nice smooth roads for our city,” said Rutland Mayor Mike Doenges.
However, some are skeptical about cycling on a state highway. “I don’t know what possessed them to do it, especially a bike lane, just seems crazy. I can’t imagine riding on this road unless you absolutely had to,” said Brian James Hobbs with Be Music.
Some business owners don’t believe the changes will work and will impact customers. They’ve circulated multiple petitions to try and prevent the project.
Others, like Parizo, are just hoping to make the area safer. “I think it’ll just slow everything down and make it safer,” he said.
Officials say the actual lane changes will happen in July. Business Route 4 leading downtown will have the same changes next year.