U.S. Route 7 in Vermont
Encyclopedia
U.S. Route 7 is a mostly rural two-lane road running along the western side of the state, with a few, short expressway sections. It is known as the Ethan Allen
Highway for much of its 176 miles (283.2 km) path through the state. US 7 ends at I-89 in the northern part of the town of Highgate
, just south of the Canadian border. I-89 continues to the border crossing.
US 7 remains a rural 2-lane highway from the Massachusetts line to Bennington, Vermont, where a freeway is being built to the north and east of Bennington. Once complete, U.S. 7 will utilize this new bypass while the existing 2-lane road into town will become part of Vermont Route 7A
. North of town, the highway then again returns to expressway status. For 3 miles (4.8 km) it is a true expressway with divided carriageways and multiple lanes. Route 7 then narrows down to an undivided two-lane freeway
. There are, however, many stretches with passing lanes. Just north of Manchester, Vermont the expressway ends and the road is either two lane or 4 lane undivided, uncontrolled road all the way to the Canadian border (except between Shelburne and Burlington, known as Shelburne Road, which is a 4 lane divided highway, and also for a 10 miles (16.1 km) section south of Rutland). US 7 and US 2
are concurrent from Burlington to Colchester
. In 2007, an average of 10,000 vehicles daily drove north through the junction at the south end of the overlap while 12,000 drove south through the intersection.
U.S. Route 7 Alternate is an alternate route
of U.S. Route 7 in Burlington
, Vermont
. The southbound-only US 7 Alternate begins at the intersection of Hyde Street and Riverside Avenue (US 2
/US 7) and runs for a distance of 2.107 miles (3.4 km) in the following manner: west on Riverside Avenue, south on North and South Winooski Avenues, south on St. Paul Street, south on Shelburne Street and then terminates at US 7 at the rotary
-style intersection of South Willard Street (US 7), Locust Street and Ledge Road. Mainline US 7 travels southbound over Hyde Street and North and South Willard Streets until the intersection above. Note that there is a new (as of October 2011) "ALT 7" left lane pavement marking for northbound traffic on Shelburne Street just before the rotary intersection with US 7 (right lane).
The lone "Alternate US 7" assembly on the route is located on St. Paul Street in Burlington, just south of the intersection with South Winooski Avenue and Howard Street.
in South Burlington showing "US 7 NORTH TRUCK ROUTE VIA I-189". Unfortunately, there is no further official signage other than this. Note that US 7 roughly parallels Interstate 89 from the Interstate 189
junction north to where it ends at I-89 in Highgate.
|colspan=5 style="text-align:center"|North end of freeway section
Ethan Allen
Ethan Allen was a farmer, businessman, land speculator, philosopher, writer, and American Revolutionary War patriot, hero, and politician. He is best known as one of the founders of the U.S...
Highway for much of its 176 miles (283.2 km) path through the state. US 7 ends at I-89 in the northern part of the town of Highgate
Highgate, Vermont
Highgate is a town in Franklin County, Vermont, United States. The population was 3,397 at the 2000 census. The town is on the border of Quebec, Canada and is a border town of Philipsburg, Quebec.-History:...
, just south of the Canadian border. I-89 continues to the border crossing.
Route description
Vermont Route 7A
Vermont Route 7A is a north–south state highway in Bennington County, Vermont, in the United States. It is an alternate route of U.S. Route 7 between Bennington and Dorset...
. North of town, the highway then again returns to expressway status. For 3 miles (4.8 km) it is a true expressway with divided carriageways and multiple lanes. Route 7 then narrows down to an undivided two-lane freeway
Two-lane freeway
A two-lane expressway is an expressway with only one lane in each direction, and usually no median barrier. It may be built that way because of constraints, or may be intended for expansion once traffic volumes rise. The term super two is often used by roadgeeks for this type of road, but traffic...
. There are, however, many stretches with passing lanes. Just north of Manchester, Vermont the expressway ends and the road is either two lane or 4 lane undivided, uncontrolled road all the way to the Canadian border (except between Shelburne and Burlington, known as Shelburne Road, which is a 4 lane divided highway, and also for a 10 miles (16.1 km) section south of Rutland). US 7 and US 2
U.S. Route 2
U.S. Route 2 is an east–west U.S. Highway spanning across the northern continental United States. US 2 consists of two segments connected by various roadways in southern Canada...
are concurrent from Burlington to Colchester
Colchester, Vermont
Colchester is a town in Chittenden County, Vermont, United States. The population was 17,067 at the 2010 census. It is the fourth-largest municipality and second-largest town in Vermont by population.-Geography:...
. In 2007, an average of 10,000 vehicles daily drove north through the junction at the south end of the overlap while 12,000 drove south through the intersection.
Suffixed routes
US 7 has two suffixed routes, both of which are old alignments of US 7.- VT 7AVermont Route 7AVermont Route 7A is a north–south state highway in Bennington County, Vermont, in the United States. It is an alternate route of U.S. Route 7 between Bennington and Dorset...
(27.82 miles or 44.772 km) is an alternate routeAlternate routeAn official alternate route is a special route in the United States that provides an alternate alignment for a highway. They are loop roads and found in many road systems in the United States including the U.S. Route system and various state route systems...
of US 7 between Bennington and DorsetDorset, VermontDorset is a town in Bennington County, Vermont, United States. The population was 2,036 at the 2000 census. Dorset is famous for being home to America's oldest marble quarry and for being the birth place of Alcoholics Anonymnous co-founder Bill W...
. The route is signed as "Historic VT 7A" to distinguish it, the original routing of US 7, from the modern US 7 limited-access highway. - VT 7B (6.786 miles or 10.921 km) is an alternate route of US 7 through the towns of Wallingford and ClarendonClarendon, VermontClarendon is a town in Rutland County, Vermont, United States. The population was 2,571 at the 2010 census. Clarendon spans U.S. Route 7 and is split by the highway, the Cold River and Mill River, Otter Creek, and the Green Mountains into the villages of Clarendon, West Clarendon, East Clarendon,...
. VT 7B was the original alignment of US 7 prior to the construction of the current US 7 divided highwayDivided HighwayDivided Highway is a compilation album by American rock band The Doobie Brothers, released in 2003. . All tracks are taken from the albums Cycles and Brotherhood .-Track listing:...
through the area. The route intersects US 7 five times (including the termini) and overlaps it for 0.8 miles (1.29 km) in Clarendon.
US 7 Alternate
Alternate route
An official alternate route is a special route in the United States that provides an alternate alignment for a highway. They are loop roads and found in many road systems in the United States including the U.S. Route system and various state route systems...
of U.S. Route 7 in Burlington
Burlington, Vermont
Burlington is the largest city in the U.S. state of Vermont and the shire town of Chittenden County. Burlington lies south of the U.S.-Canadian border and some south of Montreal....
, Vermont
Vermont
Vermont is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. The state ranks 43rd in land area, , and 45th in total area. Its population according to the 2010 census, 630,337, is the second smallest in the country, larger only than Wyoming. It is the only New England...
. The southbound-only US 7 Alternate begins at the intersection of Hyde Street and Riverside Avenue (US 2
U.S. Route 2
U.S. Route 2 is an east–west U.S. Highway spanning across the northern continental United States. US 2 consists of two segments connected by various roadways in southern Canada...
/US 7) and runs for a distance of 2.107 miles (3.4 km) in the following manner: west on Riverside Avenue, south on North and South Winooski Avenues, south on St. Paul Street, south on Shelburne Street and then terminates at US 7 at the rotary
Roundabout
A roundabout is the name for a road junction in which traffic moves in one direction around a central island. The word dates from the early 20th century. Roundabouts are common in many countries around the world...
-style intersection of South Willard Street (US 7), Locust Street and Ledge Road. Mainline US 7 travels southbound over Hyde Street and North and South Willard Streets until the intersection above. Note that there is a new (as of October 2011) "ALT 7" left lane pavement marking for northbound traffic on Shelburne Street just before the rotary intersection with US 7 (right lane).
The lone "Alternate US 7" assembly on the route is located on St. Paul Street in Burlington, just south of the intersection with South Winooski Avenue and Howard Street.
US 7 Truck
There is overhead signage at the junction with Interstate 189Interstate 189
Interstate 189 is an auxiliary Interstate Highway in Chittenden County, Vermont, United States. The highway extends for from Interstate 89 exit 13 in South Burlington to U.S. Route 7 just inside the Burlington city limits...
in South Burlington showing "US 7 NORTH TRUCK ROUTE VIA I-189". Unfortunately, there is no further official signage other than this. Note that US 7 roughly parallels Interstate 89 from the Interstate 189
Interstate 189
Interstate 189 is an auxiliary Interstate Highway in Chittenden County, Vermont, United States. The highway extends for from Interstate 89 exit 13 in South Burlington to U.S. Route 7 just inside the Burlington city limits...
junction north to where it ends at I-89 in Highgate.
Major intersections
|colspan=4 style="text-align:center"|South end of freeway section|colspan=5 style="text-align:center"|North end of freeway section