Environmental Services, Bennington Bypass

Bennington, Vermont

Assisting the Vermont Agency of Transportation (VTrans), DuBois & King provided NEPA, environmental, and permitting services for the development of the 10-mile Bennington Bypass. The bypass is a limited access highway on a new alignment starting in Hoosick, New York, bypassing Bennington and connecting with Route 7 south of the Town. The project was phased as separate segments. The Western segment and the Northern segment have been constructed and open to traffic.

DuBois & King completed the Final Environmental Impact Statement and section 4(f) evaluation for the proposed bypass. Retained by VTrans to work with the various design consultants, D&K was responsible for identifying the environmental resources impacted by all segments of the bypass. Wetland impacts for all segments were delineated from the conceptual design plans.

To account for wetland impacts, D&K completed the identification, selection, and design of a 28-acre wetland mitigation complex along Barney Brook in Bennington. The wetland mitigation site entails conversion of 6.7 acres of upland to wetland, enhancement of 5.5 acres of existing wetland, and 0.9 acres of riparian corridor enhancement. D&K developed an amphibian mitigation site to compensate for construction impacts.

DuBois & King has been responsible for permitting services including Stormwater Construction Permits (NPDES), Army Corps of Engineers 404 Individual Permit, 401 Water Quality Certification, Stream Alteration Permits, Stormwater Design Permits, and CUD/State Wetland Permit. Landscape design services included visual analysis for the development of the entire project area and a planting plan. DuBois & King also provided expert witness testimony regarding the NEPA process during the Necessity Process for the Northern segment of the project.