WEST DANVILLE, Vt. (WCAX) – The recent flooding across the region washed out scores of roads and bridges and damaged dozens of homes and businesses. The high water also took a big chunk out of the Lamoille Valley Rail Trail in West Danville.
A skidder pulls down trees out of a newly formed gorge in West Danville. That gorge is where a roughly 100-foot section of the Lamoille Valley Rail trail used to be.
Riders can detour around the washed-out section on a nearby road but the trail will be closed here for the time being. Another section in East Hardwick is also closed due to flooding.
“It’s so successful for our community. The businesses appreciate it, but it is just the joy of seeing the numbers of people, families, and bicyclists,” said Deborah Stresing from Joe’s Pond Craft Shop.
The entire 93-mile trail from St. Johnsbury to Swanton was finally completed last year, but just days later flooding closed sections of the trail.
“It’s very unfortunate for a major project that has been ongoing, and a lot of people waited years for the completion, then to have the flooding last year, then of course basically same time this summer,” said Travis Graves.
Travis Graves grew up in Montpelier and now lives out west. He planned to bike from the West Danville beach to the closed East Hardwick section and back. He’ll likely pass fewer riders on this portion of the trail.
“A lot of it surrounds these small towns and general stores. Summer and fall tourism is obviously huge in Vermont,” said Graves.
A town bridge on Joe’s Pond was also washed away during the recent flooding, but the water quality has been cleared for swimming. A community that relies on tourism currently faces a few roadblocks in its way.
According to a spokesperson, VTRANS does not yet have a set schedule for the needed repairs in West Danville. At this time, we do not know how long this section of the trail will be closed.