U.S. Route 2 Truck (St. Johnsbury, Vermont)

Truck
U.S. Route 2 marker

U.S. Route 2 Truck
Route information
Maintained by VTrans
Length: 7.0 mi[1] (11.3 km)
Major junctions
West end: I‑91 / US 2 in St. Johnsbury
  US 5 in St. Johnsbury
I‑93 / VT 18 east of St. Johnsbury
East end: US 2 / VT 18 in St. Johnsbury
Location
Counties: Caledonia
Highway system
State highways in Vermont

U.S. Route 2 Truck (US 2 Truck) is a 7.0-mile-long (11.3 km) truck route used to divert heavy truck traffic around the town of St. Johnsbury in the U.S. state of Vermont.

Route description

US 2 Truck begins at the interchange of Interstate 91 (I-91) and US 2 in St. Johnsbury. It travels to the south-southeast, concurrent with I-91, in the southern part of the city. The two routes have an interchange with US 5. Then, they cross over the Passumpsic River and leave the city limits of St. Johnsbury. They reach an interchange with I-93. At this interchange, US 2 Truck ends its concurrency with I-91, and begins one with I-93 to the northeast. I-93/US 2 Truck travel concurrently for one exit, an interchange with Vermont Route 18 (VT 18). At this interchange, US 2 Truck ends its concurrency with I-93, and begins a brief one with VT 18. The two highways have an intersection with US 2 on the northeastern edge of the city limits of St. Johnsbury. At this intersection, both US 2 Truck and VT 18 terminate.[1]

Truck weight originally limited to 80,000 Pounds

Since the truck route utilizes two Interstate Highways, the maximum weight limit allowed was the same as the Interstates in Vermont, which was 80,000 pounds (36,000 kg). This posed a problem for local trucks loaded with logs and wood chips. Their weight typically exceeds Interstate limits, but is still within the limits for state and U.S. highways. This created a situation where the most dangerous and difficult-to-handle trucks were forced to use the main US 2 route through downtown St. Johnsbury. Signs at the junctions of Truck Route 2 and US 2 warned commercial drivers that the weight limits were limited to those on the Interstate Highway System.

Downtown St. Johnsbury via US 2

Navigating a semi-trailer truck through downtown St. Johnsbury via US 2 is tricky at best and dangerous at worst, with several sharp turns on narrow, downtown streets with one very steep grade involved on Eastern Avenue. The truck route was designated in an attempt to alleviate the truck traffic in the congested downtown area, which includes the campus of St. Johnsbury Academy, a private secondary school.

"St. Johnsbury officials still hope to persuade the state to increase weight limits on Interstates in an effort to keep 18-wheelers away from St. Johnsbury Academy. Selectmen contend heavy trucks passing through the Academy campus present a danger to students, and a nuisance for drivers."[2]

Interstate weight limit increased to 100,000 pounds

Federal legislation authored by U.S. Senator Patrick Leahy (D-VT) included Vermont in a pilot program to allow Interstate weight limits to be increased for a period of one year, with evaluation of the program to follow. Vermont's state legislature quickly authored a measure to allow the heavier limits, which was signed into law by the governor on January 13, 2010.[3]

Major intersections

The entire route is in Caledonia County.

Locationmi[1]kmDestinationsNotes
St. Johnsbury0.00.0 I‑91 north / US 2 – Lyndonville, DanvilleWestern terminus; western end of I-91 concurrency; I-91, exit 21
1.82.9 US 5 – BarnetI-91/US 2 Truck, exit 20
2.43.9 I‑91 south / I‑93 south – White River JunctionEastern end of I-91 concurrency; northern terminus of I-93; western end of I-93 concurrency; I-91, exit 19
 6.310.1 I‑93 south / VT 18 southEastern end of I-93 concurrency; western end of VT 18 concurrency; I-93, exit 1
St. Johnsbury7.011.3 US 2 (Theodore Roosevelt Highway) / VT 18 south – KirbyEastern terminus; northern terminus of VT 18; eastern end of VT 18 concurrency
1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 Google (December 5, 2013). "Route of US 2 Truck" (Map). Google Maps. Google. Retrieved December 5, 2013.
  2. ↑ Reed, T (June 16, 2008). "St. J Officials Hope to Reroute Trucks". The Caledonian-Record 170 (266).
  3. ↑ Curran, John (January 14, 2010). "Heavier Trucks To Get Free Ride". The Caledonian-Record 172 (134). Associated Press.

External links

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