U.S. Route 7, also known as Shelburne Road, serves as the southern gateway to Chittenden County. The Vermont Agency of Transportation (VTrans) is at work to improve a portion of U.S. Route 7 which will be extended 3½ miles from Imperial Drive in South Burlington to the recently completed LaPlatte River Crossing in Shelburne. The result will be a landscaped four-lane boulevard, with a planted median island, bike lanes, sidewalks, bus stops and shelters, street lighting and a coordinated signal system. These features have the ability to reduce congestion and improve mobility while providing for the needs of bicyclists and pedestrians. Median u-turn breaks will be provided at sixteen locations. This $32 million project will be constructed in three segments. The first segment, the LaPlatte River Crossing at the southern end is completed. The northern or South Burlington segment will begin at Imperial Drive (just north of IDX Drive) in South Burlington and extend southward one mile to the South Burlington/Shelburne town line near Pine Haven Shores Road. The southern or Shelburne segment will begin at the town line and extend over two miles south to Webster Road in Shelburne. The protection and maintenance of traffic during an urban reconstruction project is a major challenge. To accommodate the 24,000 vehicles per day that travel Shelburne Road, the following measures are in place: A public information campaign Temporary widening to provide one lane southbound and one lane northbound Variable message boards on approaching highways Nighttime work when needed A reduced construction zone speed limit of 30 mph The goal is to provide a safe and convenient route during construction while minimizing impact to adjacent landowners and businesses. As this comprehensive project nears completion, there are several components that are or will soon be in place: a landscaped median, a new traffic signal system, street lighting, U-turns, jughandles, pedestrian and transit accommodations and environmental enhancement. For a guide on changing direction on the Route 7 divided highway, click here. The landscaped median separating north-traveling motorists from south-traveling motorists maximizes safety as well as lends an appealing aesthetic element to the roadway. The new traffic signal system optimizes traffic flow by coordinating signal timing and utilizing vehicle detection capability so that signals can respond to movement. In addition, an emergency preemption system in the signals makes it safer for responding emergency vehicles to pass through the signalized intersections. The South Burlington segment of the highway provides continuous street lighting while the Shelburne segment provides lighting at the intersections. U-turns are legal at all breaks in the median. At signalized intersections, U-turns can be made from the left turn lanes designated for them. The traffic lights provide a separate signal for left turns and U-turns while stopping oncoming and sidestreet traffic. U-turns also use a portion of the adjacent bus turnout. For a guide on changing direction on the Route 7 divided highway, click here.     The two jughandles are located at IDX Drive on the northern end of the corridor, and opposite Webster Road at the southern end. They provide the larger turning area that may be necessary for larger trucks and wide loads to change direction on Route 7. The jughandles may also be used by other motor vehicles, providing additional left turn access. For a guide on changing direction on the Route 7 divided highway, click here. Protected, handicapped-accessible pedestrian crossings are located at all signals along the corridor and feature a pedestrian crossing phase which helps individuals safely cross with the flow of traffic. Transit accommodations include bus turnouts, shelters and stops located at signalized intersections along both sides of the highway. The project incorporates new features to help protect the environment. These include a stormwater collection system with treatment facilities located at Executive Drive, as well as new culverts at Monroe Brook to accommodate fish passage. For more information on the end result of this project, click here to visit our End Result page.