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U.S. Route 2 in Vermont

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This article is about the section of U.S. Route 2 in Vermont. For the entire route, see U.S. Route 2.

U.S. Route 2 marker
U.S. Route 2
Theodore Roosevelt Highway[1]
Map
US 2 highlighted in red, VT 2A highlighted in blue, and VT 2B highlighted in purple
Route information
Maintained by NYSDOT and VTrans
Length150.518 mi[2] (242.235 km)
US 2 continues west into New York for 0.87 mi (1.40 km)[3]
Existed1926[4]–present
Major junctions
West end US 11 in Rouses Point, NY
Major intersections
East end US 2 at the VT-NH state line near Guildhall
Location
CountryUnited States
StateVermont
CountiesGrand Isle, Chittenden, Washington, Caledonia, Essex
Highway system
← VT F-10A→ VT 3
← VT 116VT 116A→ VT 117
← VT 346VT F-1→ VT F-2
← NY 1XNY→ NY 2

U.S. Route 2 (US 2) is a part of the United States Numbered Highway System that is split into two segments. Its eastern segment runs from Rouses Point, New York, to Houlton, Maine. In Vermont, US 2 extends 150.518 miles (242.235 km) from the New York state line in Alburgh to the New Hampshire state line in Guildhall. West of Vermont, US 2 continues into New York for another 0.87 miles (1.40 km) to an intersection with US 11 in Rouses Point. US 2 passes through the cities of Burlington and Montpelier as it traverses the state. The highway parallels Interstate 89 (I-89) between these two cities. The Burlington to Montpelier route was first laid out as a toll road in the early 19th century. It was later incorporated into the transcontinental auto trail known as the Theodore Roosevelt International Highway in 1919 before being designated as part of US 2 in 1926.

Although the portion of the road from Alburgh to Burlington follows a north–south alignment, US 2 is continuously signed east (heading south during this portion) and west (heading north) to match its overall alignment, making it the longest east–west signed route in the state. At a nearly 460-mile (740 km) overall length, US 2 is also the longest highway of any designation (Interstate, U.S. Route, or state highway) that enters the state of Vermont.

Route description

US 2 in Vermont

The eastern segment of US 2 begins in New York at an intersection with US 11 just one mile (1.6 km) south of the Canadian border in Rouses Point. From there, it crosses Lake Champlain into Grand Isle County, traversing the length of the county and crossing Lake Champlain over several bridges until it reaches the mainland in Milton and Chittenden County. From there, it travels south to Burlington, where it begins to closely parallel I-89 and the Winooski River all the way to Montpelier and Washington County. In Montpelier, the main route bypasses the downtown area using Memorial Drive, while a business loop using State Street serves downtown. After leaving Montpelier, the road turns northeastward, crossing into Caledonia County and passing through St. Johnsbury. It then passes into rural Essex County and eventually crosses the Connecticut River from Guildhall into Lancaster, New Hampshire.

History

An improved road between the main settlements of Burlington and Montpelier was first established from old footpaths in 1805, when the 36-mile (58 km) Winooski Turnpike was chartered by the state of Vermont. The old turnpike road utilized the relatively flat banks of the Winooski River to connect the two major towns and opened to traffic several years after the company was chartered. The road ceased operating as a toll road several decades later in 1852, when the road became publicly owned.[5] The route of the old Winooski Turnpike between Burlington and Montpelier was later incorporated into the old Theodore Roosevelt International Highway. This cross-country auto trail, named in honor of recently deceased ex-president and naturalist Theodore Roosevelt, was organized in February 1919 to connect Portland, Maine, with Portland, Oregon.[6] Within Vermont, the auto trail used what is now US 2 from Vermont Route 129 (VT 129) south of Alburgh center to VT 18 east of downtown St. Johnsbury.[7]

Before being designated as US 2, the current alignment was part of several interstate routes of the 1922 New England road marking system. From Danville eastward to the state line, the US 2 alignment was part of Route 15; it was part of Route 18 between Montpelier and Danville; it used Route 14 between Burlington and Montpelier; and it used Route 30 between Alburgh and Burlington.[8] When the plans for the U.S. Highway System were first drawn up in 1925, US 2 began in Alburgh and was routed along the Roosevelt Highway from Alburgh to Montpelier. Both US 2 and the Roosevelt Highway connected Montpelier to St. Johnsbury; however, the Roosevelt Highway used a direct path along former Route 18 while US 2 was initially assigned to then-Route 25 (modern US 302) to Wells River, where it overlapped proposed US 5 north to St. Johnsbury. From St. Johnsbury, the Roosevelt Highway turned southeast toward Portland along modern VT 18 while US 2 continued east along former Route 15 to Bangor.[9] No changes were made to US 2 in the final system plan approved on November 11, 1926.[4] US 2 was relocated onto its modern alignment along the original Roosevelt Highway route between Montpelier and St. Johnsbury in the mid-1930s. The original alignment of US 2 became part of the newly designated US 302.[10][11]

Initially, Rouses Point, New York, and Alburgh were connected by way of a ferry across the Richelieu River. The ferry ran from the center of Rouses Point to Vermont's Windmill Point, where it connected to VT F-1, an east–west route linking Windmill Point to Alburgh.[12] When US 2 was assigned, it was overlaid on the preexisting VT F-1, following the route and the ferry to the New York state line, where US 2 initially ended.[13] In 1937, a new tolled swing bridge across the Richelieu River opened, carrying an extended US 2 between US 11 in Rouses Point and Alburgh. The swing bridge was replaced with a toll-free permanent bridge on September 22, 1987.[14]

Major intersections

The short continuation of US 2 into New York is included below.

StateCountyLocationmi[2][3]kmDestinationsNotes
New YorkClintonRouses Point0.000.00


 US 11 to NY 9B / I-87 / A-15 – Rouses Point, Canada, Montreal		Western terminus of US 2; serves Rouses Point station
Lake Champlain0.87
0.000		1.40
0.000		Korean Veterans Memorial Bridge[1]
(New York–Vermont state line)
VermontGrand IsleAlburgh3.1525.073
 VT 225 north – Noyan, QC		Southern terminus of VT 225
6.23410.033
 VT 78 east – Swanton		Western terminus of VT 78
11.63318.721
 VT 129 west – Isle Lamotte		Eastern terminus of VT 129
Grand Isle25.60941.214
 VT 314 south – Grand Isle Station, NY State via Ferry		Northern terminus of VT 314
South Hero28.50445.873
 VT 314 north – Lake Champlain Islands, NY State via Ferry		Southern terminus of VT 314
ChittendenColchester38.658–
38.921		62.214–
62.637		 I-89 – Winooski, Burlington, Georgia, St. Albans, MontrealExit 17 on I-89
39.01162.782
 US 7 north – Milton		Western end of concurrency with US 7
41.90167.433
 VT 2A south – Essex Junction		Northern terminus of VT 2A
42.09567.745

 To VT 2A south – Essex Junction		Unsigned VT 127
43.54270.074
 VT 127 south (Blakely Road)		Northern terminus of VT 127
45.286–
45.358		72.881–
72.997		 I-89 – St. Albans, Champlain Islands, BurlingtonExit 16 on I-89
Winooski46.36974.624


 VT 15 east (East Allen Street) to I-89 south – Essex Junction		Western terminus of VT 15; Roundabout
Burlington47.67276.721

 US 7 Alt. south (Riverside Avenue at Hyde Street)		Northern terminus of US 7 Alt.
48.61278.233
 US 7 south (South Willard Street) – Shelburne		Eastern end of concurrency with US 7
South Burlington49.619–
49.920		79.854–
80.338		 I-89 – Montpelier, Winooski, St. AlbansExit 14 on I-89
50.44781.187
 VT 116 south (Hinesburg Road)		Northern terminus of VT 116
Williston53.77786.546 VT 2A – Essex Junction, Hinesburg
Richmond59.20195.275
 VT 117 west – Essex Junction		Eastern terminus of VT 117
59.234–
59.399		95.328–
95.593		 I-89 – Burlington, Waterbury, MontpelierExit 11 on I-89
WashingtonWaterbury74.080119.220

 VT 100 north to I-89 – Stowe, Morrisville		Western end of concurrency with VT 100
Moretown75.395121.336
 VT 100 south – Waitsfield, Warren		Eastern end of concurrency with VT 100
Middlesex79.819128.456
 VT 100B south – Moretown, Waitsfield, Warren		Northern terminus of VT 100B
Montpelier85.767138.029
 US 2 Bus. (State Street)		Western terminus of US 2 Bus.
85.942138.310
 Montpelier State Highway (Memorial Drive) to I-89 – Burlington, White River Junction		Exit 8 on I-89
86.368138.996
 US 2 Bus. / VT 12 – Worcester, Northfield		Eastern terminus of US 2 Bus.
88.092141.770
 US 302 east		Western terminus of US 302; roundabout
East Montpelier92.781149.317
 VT 14 south – Barre		Western end of concurrency with VT 14
92.988149.650
 VT 14 north – North Montpelier, Hardwick		Eastern end of concurrency with VT 14
Plainfield95.831154.225
 VT 214 north – North Montpelier		Southern terminus of VT 214
Marshfield103.213166.105
 VT 215 north – Lower Cabot, Cabot		Southern terminus of VT 215
104.350167.935
 VT 232 south – Groton		Northern terminus of VT 232
CaledoniaDanville112.554181.138 VT 15 – Walden, HardwickEastern terminus of VT 15
118.219190.255
 VT 2B east		Western terminus of VT 2B
St. Johnsbury121.625–
122.252		195.736–
196.746
 I-91 / US 2 Truck – White River Junction, Newport		Exit 21 on I-91
122.569197.256
 VT 2B west		Eastern terminus of VT 2B
123.558198.847
 US 5 south (Railroad Street)		Western end of concurrency with US 5
123.672199.031
 US 5 north (Railroad Street)		Eastern end of concurrency with US 5
126.506203.592


 VT 18 south to I-91 / I-93 – Waterford, Littleton NH		Northern terminus of VT 18
EssexGuildhall150.416242.071
 VT 102 north – Guildhall, Bloomfield		Southern terminus of VT 102
150.518242.235
 US 2 east – Lancaster, Bangor ME		Continuation into New Hampshire
1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi

Suffixed routes

Vermont Route 2A

Vermont Route 2A marker
Vermont Route 2A
LocationSt. George–Colchester
Length13.853 mi[2] (22.294 km)

Vermont Route 2A (VT 2A) is a largely 13.853-mile (22.294 km) alternate route of US 2 between St. George and Colchester. It begins at VT 116 in St. George and continues north and west through Williston and Essex Junction before ending at US 2 and US 7 in Colchester.[2] Much of the portion of VT 2A that runs through Williston has been expanded from two to four lanes, particularly the stretch between US 2 and I-89, to accommodate the many restaurants, offices, and stores that have been developed there.

Major intersections

The entire route is in Chittenden County.

Locationmi[2]kmDestinationsNotes
St. George0.0000.000 VT 116 – Hinesburg, Bristol, South Burlington
Williston4.911–
4.994		7.903–
8.037		 I-89 – Montpelier, BurlingtonExit 12 on I-89
5.7039.178 US 2 – Burlington International Airport, South Burlington, Williston
Essex Junction8.59113.826
 VT 15 (Pearl Street / Main Street) / VT 117 east (Maple Street) – Five Corners, Winooski		Western terminus of VT 117
8.74014.066 Central Street – Essex Junction station
Essex10.62417.098
 VT 289 east – Essex


 Susie Wilson Road to VT 15 west		Exit 7 on VT 289; current western terminus of VT 289
Colchester13.62621.929



 To US 2 east / US 7 south (to VT 127) – Malletts Bay, Winooski, Burlington		Unsigned portion of VT 127
13.85322.294

 US 2 west / US 7 north – Colchester, Milton
1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi

Vermont Route 2B

Vermont Route 2B marker
Vermont Route 2B
LocationDanville–St. Johnsbury
Length3.459 mi[2] (5.567 km)

Vermont Route 2B (VT 2B) is an alternate route of US 2 between Danville and St. Johnsbury. The route begins across the street from the intersection of US 2 and Jamieson Road in Danville, first running south, then curving east at Parker Road, which began west of there at US 2 near a local restaurant. The rest of the road runs through rural Caledonia County and crosses a bridge over I-91 with no access, just south of exit 21 before finally terminating at US 2 in St. Johnsbury.

See also

References

  1. ^ a b State of Vermont Board of Libraries (April 28, 2008). "Vermont Named State Highways and Bridges" (PDF). Department of Libraries, State of Vermont. Retrieved April 1, 2015.
  2. ^ a b c d e f Traffic Research Unit (May 2013). "2012 (Route Log) AADTs for State Highways" (PDF). Policy, Planning and Intermodal Development Division, Vermont Agency of Transportation. Retrieved March 8, 2015.
  3. ^ a b "2014 Traffic Data Report for New York State" (PDF). New York State Department of Transportation. July 22, 2015. p. 80. Retrieved September 16, 2016.
  4. ^ a b Bureau of Public Roads & American Association of State Highway Officials (November 11, 1926). United States System of Highways Adopted for Uniform Marking by the American Association of State Highway Officials (Map). 1:7,000,000. Washington, DC: United States Geological Survey. OCLC 32889555. Retrieved November 7, 2013 – via Wikimedia Commons.
  5. ^ Wood, F.J. (1919). The Turnpikes of New England. Boston: Marshall Jones Company. Retrieved July 20, 2010.
  6. ^ Skidmore, Max J. (2006). Moose Crossing: Portland to Portland on the Theodore Roosevelt International Highway. Hamilton Books. ISBN 0-7618-3510-5.
  7. ^ United States Touring Map (Map). Automobile Club of America. 1924. Retrieved July 20, 2010.
  8. ^ Automobile Blue Book (Vol. 1), 1926 and 1927 eds., (Automobile Blue Book, Inc., Boston)
  9. ^ Joint Board on Interstate Highways (1925). "Appendix VI: Descriptions of the Interstate Routes Selected, with Numbers Assigned". Report of Joint Board on Interstate Highways, October 30, 1925, Approved by the Secretary of Agriculture, November 18, 1925 (Report). Washington, DC: United States Department of Agriculture. p. 49. OCLC 733875457, 55123355, 71026428. Retrieved November 14, 2017 – via Wikisource.
  10. ^ Texaco Road Map – New England (Map). Cartography by Rand McNally and Company. Texas Oil Company. 1933.
  11. ^ Thibodeau, William A. (1938). The ALA Green Book (1938–39 ed.). Automobile Legal Association.
  12. ^ Road Map of New York (Map). Cartography by General Drafting. Standard Oil Company of New York. 1930.
  13. ^ Weingroff, Richard (January 9, 2009). "U.S. 2: Houlton, Maine, to Everett, Washington". Highway History. Federal Highway Administration. Retrieved January 18, 2010.
  14. ^ Faber, Harold (September 21, 1987). "New York and Vermont Get New Toll-Free Bridge". The New York Times. p. B2. Retrieved January 18, 2010.
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U.S. Route 2
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