Cavendish, Vermont - September 23, 2011
This 200-yard, multi-story pit was once part of Route 131 in Cavendish. Today, it's more commonly known as the Cavendish Canyon.
"We have been here since day one and this is day 25 and we as you can see, we still have a long way to go," said Sue Minter of VTrans.
Friday, VTrans brought WCAX along to tour some of the worst damaged roads from Tropical Storm Irene. Stops included a stretch along 131 and Route 106 in Weathersfield, where much of the two lanes have washed away into the river 100-feet below.
The estimate to repair state roads after the storm now stands at $530 million.
"We expect a lot will come from the federal government. Our folks in Congress are working this week to get amendments into appropriations bills. We're looking to the federal government primarily to fund the state road system and to FEMA to help with the town roads," Minter said.
The river is what led to all of the damage in Cavendish. More than 120 National Guardsmen are there to help fill in the pit, but it is going to take more than 7,000 trucks of fill before it is passable once again.
"Many have said that as far as a profession goes this is the challenge of a lifetime, what we are seeing here in our generation in this state," said Joe Flynn, the VTrans project coordinator.
At its peak, VTrans had nearly 700 people and 60 private contractors coming together to fix state roads. Flynn is helping to coordinate the effort and says there's no such thing as a quick fix for the big projects.
"Many of the fixes that we've employed are temporary fixes, but when you look at projects like this one you can't do it temporarily; you have to start correctly, you have to start at the base and you have to do it right because there are no do-overs in a project like this," Flynn said.
More than 500 miles of state roads were impacted by Irene. Today, all but about 55 may not be perfect but are passable. VTrans says its focus is to bring that figure down to zero.
"We won't quit until we're done," Minter said. "And we ask that they be patient in these places that are so extraordinary and that they remember to thank their road crew."
VTrans say it hopes to have 131 in Cavendish passable by Thanksgiving. It could be Christmas before the damaged stretch of 106 in Weathersfield is back open to traffic.
