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Plan ahead for late June through late July 2025. Crew activity around Colchester Exit 17, Montpelier-Waterbury, Royalton Exit 3, and the Swanton-Highgate corridor will change normal traffic patterns.

Short, daytime work windows will narrow lanes near ramps and reduce speeds. Motorists should expect single-lane travel, crossovers, and intermittent closures that affect both local trips and freight runs.

For heavy loads, note a 14-foot height limit near Royalton and tighter ramp widths at Exit 17. These limits may force route changes or timing shifts for oversized moves.

Use real-time tools like New England 511 and Waze incident layers to spot backups and find detour routes. Leaving earlier on monday friday or shifting deliveries away from peak hours often lowers stress and downtime.

Safety tip: slow down through work zones, widen your following gap, and follow posted signs so crews and drivers stay safe.

What motorists and carriers need to know now about upcoming I-89 impacts

Active work areas will produce single-lane operations and crossover moves at several exits. Motorists expect southbound single-lane travel near Exit 17 on weekdays and a narrowed off-ramp window Monday and Tuesday from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Near Montpelier-Waterbury, southbound closures between Exit 10 and Exit 8 create major peak-hour traffic and uneven, milled surfaces. Speed is limited to 55 mph in those zones and fines are doubled.

Royalton’s Exit 3 operates with a single lane and a northbound crossover. The Exit 3 off-ramp uses a crossover, with a 25 mph ramp limit and a 14-foot height restriction on VT 107.

Swanton-Highgate includes daily lane closures that shift patterns from Exit 20/21 toward the border. Expect minor width restrictions during ramp paving and grooved surfaces that affect motorcycles.

“Check morning work windows and real-time tools to avoid tight turns and wasted time.”

• Where traffic control is present, follow flaggers, cones, and boards for safer merges.
• Carriers should re-time runs to off-peak hours and review lane closures by day.
• Watch for milled pavement and leave extra space; minor delays can extend stops and affect load stability.

Where Northern I-89 Vermont roadwork and heavy haul shipping delays are most likely

Several active projects will create short pinch points and shifted traffic near major ramps. Plan routes with those spots in mind so you can avoid slowdowns and uncertain merges.

Colchester (Exit 17) interchange

Near exit 17, expect southbound single-lane operations on weekdays and narrowed off-ramp widths during daytime work windows.

U.S. 7 will show lane shifts and shoulder closures that affect approaches to the interchange. Motorists should allow extra merge room.

Swanton–Highgate paving and stormwater work

Daily lane closures run northward toward the border while stormwater improvement crews move equipment along the corridor.

Temporary 55 mph limits, grooved surfaces, and minor width restrictions at Exit 21 mean riders and drivers must slow and expand following distance.

Montpelier–Waterbury & Royalton Exit 3

Southbound closures from Exit 10 to Exit 8 can ripple into northbound traffic during peak periods; early queue checks help avoid backups.

At Royalton, bridge rehabilitation forces a northbound crossover and tighter shoulders. The off-ramp operates with lower speeds and a 14-foot height rule, so confirm ramp geometry before exiting.

• Tip: watch message boards and allow extra time near exit pinch points.

Day-by-day traffic control patterns to expect along I-89 North and South

Crews will rotate work zones each day, producing shifting lane patterns and short single-lane operations. Expect work windows to move from morning to afternoon as crews complete paving and bridge tasks.

Daily lane closures, single-lane operations, and lane shifts near exits

Daily lane closures appear in Swanton–Highgate and Montpelier–Waterbury. Near Royalton Exit 3, a single lane setup with a crossover will feel abrupt, so slow well before the transition.

Alternating one-way traffic and controlled flaggers on connecting corridors

Alternating one-way movements are common on adjacent routes and ramps. Follow cones, barrels, and any traffic controlled flaggers to pass safely.

Where one-way traffic controlled conditions exist, be ready for brief holds while opposing flow clears the single open lane.

Temporary speed cuts, uneven surfaces, and traffic signals in work zones

Active zones use 55 mph limits and often show milled or grooved pavement. Reduce speed gradually and keep larger gaps—this helps motorists and heavy vehicles negotiate unstable surfaces.

Some approaches use a temporary traffic signal to meter vehicles through tight spots. Check early morning updates before travel to avoid surprises.

“Plan departures around morning reports to limit time spent in alternating one-way and lane shift areas.”

Heavy haul and oversize/overweight planning for the northern corridor

Schedule wide or tall loads outside peak ramp paving windows to avoid tight turns and waits. For many carriers, moving during off-peak hours cuts exposure to single-lane operations and short closures. Staging upstream during a lane alternating release reduces stop-start time for escorts.

Best windows for one lane alternating and ramp paving to reduce delays

Avoid the narrowed southbound off-ramp at Exit 17 on Monday and Tuesday between 9 a.m. and 7 p.m. when turning room tightens. Expect a single lane on the southbound mainline on weekdays, so plan spacing in queues to limit brake heat and wear.

Permits, width/height considerations, and work zone restrictions carriers must check

Royalton’s VT 107 posts a 14-foot height restriction. Confirm bridge clearances and off-ramp geometry before committing to that exit. Exit 21 ramp paving brings minor width limits—update permits to reflect temporary constraints.

“Coordinate arrival times with controlled flaggers to cut idling and move safely through alternating traffic.”

• Use lane alternating travel windows to roll with releases and reduce total hold time.
• Verify permits match live traffic control conditions and pilot car requirements.
• Watch milled surfaces and axle loads; reduced traction affects turning into tight work accesses.

Detour routes, near-exit pinch points, and real-time tools to shorten travel time

Use parallel signed detours to skirt short backups at several ramp and mainline pinch points. Around Exit 17 and Exit 21, near-exit pinch points form when lane reductions and ramp paving compress space. Motorists should watch for posted alternates to avoid slow-moving queues.

Before you roll, check live feeds that show where daily lane closures are active and where message signs warn of changed lane geometry. Cameras and mile markers let you confirm conditions and pick the fastest path.

Using signed detour routes and avoiding lane reductions near Exit 17 and Exit 21

Follow signed detour routes when a short closure or a traffic controlled hold lengthens a queue. A quick detour often saves fuel and brake wear compared with idling in a narrowing lane.

Leverage New England 511 and Waze incident layers for live work zone conditions

New England 511 displays speeds, cameras, message boards, mile markers, incidents, project notes, and closures. Waze layers in 511 add crowdsourced incidents so you spot temporary slowdowns that official schedules miss.

“Check cameras and message signs just before departure to time your run for a reopened segment.”

• If your run heads miles north, expect recurring closures near Exit 20/21 and plan alternate timing.
• Pair 511 alerts with dispatch notices so drivers can divert early when traffic controlled setups hold ramps.
• Use the site for real-time updates on road restrictions: real-time updates on road restrictions.

Plan ahead: Monday-Friday construction activities, minor delays, and safer work zones

, Expect rotating weekday schedules that create short holds and temporary lane shifts near key exits. Check morning updates so you avoid alternating one-way traffic and timed closures used during bridge and resurfacing projects.

Motorists should merge early. One lane controls and lane reductions can appear with little notice when crews move between tasks. Use live feeds before you go to spot traffic control present and traffic controlled flaggers holding flows.

Safety tip: slow down in work zones, give extra following room, and follow signs. With a little planning on monday friday, most minor delays turn into smooth, predictable runs.