WCAX.COM Local Vermont News, Weather and Sports-Underground Tunnel Planned for Waitsfield

Underground Tunnel Planned for Waitsfield

Waitsfield, Vermont -- August 10, 2009

"My grandparents bought this in 1932."

Doug Turner and his family milk about 50 cows in Waitsfield. And several decades ago -- his parents bought land across from the farm so the cows had to be walked across Route 100 to graze.

"A lot less busy then," explained Turner, "A lot of times they didn't stop a car, maybe two on a busy day. Now we stop 20 one way - 30 to 40 another way."

A twice daily cow crossing tradition that got dangerous for the Turners, the cows, and drivers.

"The worst people are the ones who are late for work and don't want to stop for anything. They'll fly right through, we've had people dive out of the road, we've had them go between us at 60 miles per hour. Weave between the cows, we've had them hit before."

So 13 years ago Doug Turner asked the state for a cow crossing, a tunnel underground, and one is now going in.

Several farms have them and after a lot of inaction, Turner got the project moving, by asking his neighbors for help, since he lets them use his land for swimming, snowmobiling and cross country skiing.

"And we told people we've always been willing to help them and we need their help and to call their representatives."

The cost to build the tunnel for these cows is about $200,000. It's a bill the state is paying for entirely, the legislature ok'd the money two years ago.

Turner: "As far as finances go they have to remember it's not this years budget, it was two years ago, when they had the money. No one knew this economic downturn was coming quite the way it did, but yet we think and feel funny about it at the same time because we know the money could have gone other places... but yet it's been 13 years and this will end this forever."

No one may be more looking forward to the tunnel being done, then Doug's mom, 79-year-old Marion Turner who was traffic control.

"I won't have to get up at 6:30 or 7 o'clock to be ready," said Marion Turner with a smile.

Doug Turner is thankful his project got the ok and hopes other farmers won't have as hard a time.

"There are other farmers who are finding the communities growing up around them like we did. And that is problem is the communities have gotten bigger - we didn't change anything. Don't blame the farmer for wanting to do what he's always done."

The cow tunnel is set to be completed in September.

Kristin Carlson - WCAX