VT 125 Slope Stabilizations

Ripton, Vermont | Vermont Agency of Transportation

Swollen by a large storm event, the Middlebury River and local drainages damaged VT 125 in Ripton. The highway was temporarily repaired in the weeks immediately following the storm, but long-term repairs were sorely needed. The project environment consisted of steep roadway embankments immediately adjacent to the Middlebury River. High water velocities and a sinuous stream channel put the roadway at risk at each bend. D&K designed long-term repairs to six sites along a two-mile section of VT 125 where the Middlebury River flows adjacent and the roadway embankments had been damaged. Repairs included riprap armoring and stacked stone walls along various embankments, as well as improvements to adjacent ditches and drainage structures. Given the steep slopes, tight curves, narrow sites, and elevation change of the river and roadway throughout the project area, the slopes presented access challenges for construction. D&K designed construction access roads and collected drone footage of the project area for contractors’ review during the bid phase.

Markets:

Project Elements

• Design of pavement and guardrail throughout the project length.
• Design of stacked stone toe walls ranging in height from 6 to 13 feet.
• The stone toe walls were embedded into the river bottom four feet down to protect against scour and granular filter material was placed behind the toe wall and stone fill to prevent groundwater from concentrating and washing material from the embankment.
• The project included resizing of multiple culverts crossing the roadway.
• Video collection using drones to interpret the site and access to bidding contractors.