Like a lot of you, Rutland Herald photographer Vyto Starinskas has been asking when Route 4 would open. He had to get to Manchester, N.H., today.
As we all know, now, Route 4 is open -- at least from Rutland to Killington. From Killington east, however, has been a bit more of a question mark.
The Vermont Agency of Transportation offers a variety of answers at its 511 page. One map shows the stretch from Bridgewater Corners to Woodstock as "Closed, Authorized Vehicles Only." But another AOT page says that same stretch is "Open at Reduced Levels."
We've heard people who have driven that stretch and others who have been turned away.
But today, at about noon, Starinskas traveled Route 4 all the way to New Hampshire.
"The bottom line is you can get to I-89 from Rutland on Route 4," Starinskas said by cell phone just before yelling in celebration as he crossed the bridge into the Granite State.
But, drivers should expect delays.
Starinskas said the road from Bridgewater to Woodstock features four or five stretches of one-lane road where workers are replacing guardrails because of washouts.
He also noted a couple of bridges in that stretch. One, a covered bridge, he said is still there. But another metal bridge is in the river, mangled.
(Vyto, if you read this from wherever you are, respond!)
You're right, Erin, that would be helpful, but while I was talking to Vyto, I lost him and couldn't reach him again. Actually, I lost him a couple of times, but we never reconnected the final time.
I do know it took him longer than normal, but nothing really crazy. He said there are stretches of normal driving with about five places he had to stop for a flagger and wait a little bit before being allowed to go.
Sorry, I can't be more specific than that.
Posted by: Darren Marcy | 09/16/2011 at 12:58 PM
It would be very helpful if you could report how long it took to get from Rutland to Woodstock on the "newly re-opened" Rt. 4.
Posted by: Erin Gallivan | 09/16/2011 at 12:54 PM