Vermont Route 16
Encyclopedia
Vermont Route 16 is a north–south state highway
in northern Vermont
, United States
. The route is 28 miles (45.1 km) long and connects Hardwick
to Westmore
. It begins at VT 15
in Hardwick and heads northward to U.S. Route 5 in Barton. From Barton, it heads eastward to VT 5A
in Westmore. The portion of VT 16 east of US 5 is town-maintained.
West of Barton, the road used to be part of New England Interstate Route 12
. The segment of VT 16 from Barton to Westmore was once Vermont Route 56.
in the town of Hardwick
, about two miles (3 km) east of the town center. It proceeds north about 1.7 miles (2.7 km) to the village of East Hardwick, roughly paralleling the path of the Lamoille River
upstream. It continues for several miles through the Lamoille River valley into the village of Greensboro Bend within the town of Greensboro
. As VT 16 continues north, it soon passes by Horse Pond, the source of the Lamoille River, clipping the town of Wheelock
briefly before returning to Greensboro. After about a mile, VT 16 enters the town of Glover
, passing through a mountain pass within the Black Hills, soon reaching Clarks Pond, the source of the Barton River
. VT 16, now known as Dry Pond Road then follows the Barton River downstream as it continues its northward journey. Several miles later, still following the Barton river, VT 16 meets its first major intersection, Vermont Route 122, about a mile and a half south of Glover center. The road name changes to Glover Street at this point and continues towards Glover center.
After passing through Glover center, VT 16 enters the town of Barton, then has a junction with I-91 (at Exit 25) about 1.2 miles (1.9 km) later. VT 16 enters the village of Barton
, becoming Church Street until an intersection with U.S. Route 5
in the village square. VT 16 then turns south along US 5 along a short wrong-way concurrency to Eastern Avenue, where VT 16 continues eastward. After leaving the village, the road name becomes Willoughby Lake Road and runs for another six miles (10 km) skirting around Barton Mountain as it heads into the town of Westmore
. It ends just after entering Westmore at an intersection with Vermont Route 5A
, about one mile north of the Westmore center at the north shore of Lake Willoughby
.
of the New England road marking system. Route 12 was a multi-state route known as the "Keene Way" that began in New London, Connecticut
, passing through Worcester, Massachusetts
and Keene, New Hampshire
before entering Vermont. In Vermont, it passed through Montpelier
and continued north through the village of Barton
, ending at the city of Newport
. When the Vermont state highway system was officially created in 1931, New England Route 12 became Vermont Route 12
, running 157 miles (252.7 km) from Ascutney
to the city of Newport. In 1955, a new route from Montpelier to Morrisville
was added to the state highway system as the "Montpelier-Morrisville State Highway". At around the same time, the road from Barton village to Westmore center had been designated as VT 56.
By 1967, several changes had taken place to the state route designations in the area. North of Montpelier, VT 12 was relocated to use the Montpelier-Morrisville State Highway. The original VT 12 alignment north of Montpelier was split into two routes. The Montpelier-Hardwick segment was assigned as an extension of Vermont Route 14
, while the Hardwick-Barton segment was re-designated as Vermont Route 16. The Barton-Newport segment, which overlapped with U.S. Route 5
, became just U.S. Route 5. VT 16 was later extended along old VT 56 to its current northern terminus at VT 5A.
State highway
State highway, state road or state route can refer to one of three related concepts, two of them related to a state or provincial government in a country that is divided into states or provinces :#A...
in northern 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...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The route is 28 miles (45.1 km) long and connects Hardwick
Hardwick, Vermont
Hardwick is a town in Caledonia County, Vermont, United States. The population was 3,174 at the 2000 census.It contains the incorporated village of Hardwick and the unincorporated villages of East Hardwick and Mackville...
to Westmore
Westmore, Vermont
Westmore is a town in Orleans County, Vermont, United States. The population was 306 at the 2000 census, making it the least populated town in the county...
. It begins at VT 15
Vermont Route 15
Vermont Route 15 is an east–west state highway in northern Vermont, United States. Its western terminus is at U.S. Route 2 and U.S. Route 7 in Winooski and its eastern terminus is at US 2 in Danville. It runs for and is known as the Grand Army of the Republic Highway.Its numbering originates from...
in Hardwick and heads northward to U.S. Route 5 in Barton. From Barton, it heads eastward to VT 5A
Vermont Route 5A
Vermont Route 5A is a state highway in northeastern Vermont, United States. It is an alternate route of U.S. Route 5 that passes along the east shore of Lake Willoughby...
in Westmore. The portion of VT 16 east of US 5 is town-maintained.
West of Barton, the road used to be part of New England Interstate Route 12
Route 12 (New England)
New England Route 12 was a multi-state north–south state highway in the New England region of the United States, running from Groton, Connecticut, through Worcester, Massachusetts, and Keene, New Hampshire, to Morrisville, Vermont. Its number dates from 1922, when it was a New England...
. The segment of VT 16 from Barton to Westmore was once Vermont Route 56.
Route description
Vermont Route 16 begins at an intersection with Vermont Route 15Vermont Route 15
Vermont Route 15 is an east–west state highway in northern Vermont, United States. Its western terminus is at U.S. Route 2 and U.S. Route 7 in Winooski and its eastern terminus is at US 2 in Danville. It runs for and is known as the Grand Army of the Republic Highway.Its numbering originates from...
in the town of Hardwick
Hardwick, Vermont
Hardwick is a town in Caledonia County, Vermont, United States. The population was 3,174 at the 2000 census.It contains the incorporated village of Hardwick and the unincorporated villages of East Hardwick and Mackville...
, about two miles (3 km) east of the town center. It proceeds north about 1.7 miles (2.7 km) to the village of East Hardwick, roughly paralleling the path of the Lamoille River
Lamoille River
The Lamoille River is a river which runs through northern Vermont and drains into Lake Champlain. It is about in length, and has a drainage area of around . The river generally flows southwest, and then northwest, from the water divide of the Green Mountains, and is the namesake of Lamoille...
upstream. It continues for several miles through the Lamoille River valley into the village of Greensboro Bend within the town of Greensboro
Greensboro, Vermont
Greensboro is the southernmost town in Orleans County, Vermont, United States. The population was 770 at the 2000 census. The town includes the places of Campbells Corners, East Greensboro, Gebbie Corner, Greensboro Four Corners, Greensboro Bend, The Four Corners, Tolmans Corner, and Burlington...
. As VT 16 continues north, it soon passes by Horse Pond, the source of the Lamoille River, clipping the town of Wheelock
Wheelock, Vermont
Wheelock is a town in Caledonia County, Vermont, United States. The population was 621 at the 2000 census.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 39.8 square miles , of which 39.6 square miles is land and 0.2 square mile is...
briefly before returning to Greensboro. After about a mile, VT 16 enters the town of Glover
Glover, Vermont
Glover is a town in Orleans County, Vermont, in the United States. As of the 2000 census, the town population was 966. It contains two unincorporated villages, Glover and West Glover....
, passing through a mountain pass within the Black Hills, soon reaching Clarks Pond, the source of the Barton River
Barton River
The Barton River is a tributary of Lake Memphremagog, over long, in northern Vermont in the United States.It runs north from Glover through Barton, Brownington, Coventry and drains through Newport into Lake Memphremagog's South Bay.-Course:...
. VT 16, now known as Dry Pond Road then follows the Barton River downstream as it continues its northward journey. Several miles later, still following the Barton river, VT 16 meets its first major intersection, Vermont Route 122, about a mile and a half south of Glover center. The road name changes to Glover Street at this point and continues towards Glover center.
After passing through Glover center, VT 16 enters the town of Barton, then has a junction with I-91 (at Exit 25) about 1.2 miles (1.9 km) later. VT 16 enters the village of Barton
Barton (village), Vermont
Barton is a village located near the center of the town of Barton, in Orleans County, Vermont, United States. The population was 742 at the 2000 census.-Government:...
, becoming Church Street until an intersection with U.S. Route 5
U.S. Route 5
U.S. Route 5 is a north–south United States highway running through the New England states of Connecticut, Massachusetts, and Vermont. Significant cities along the route include New Haven, Connecticut; Hartford, Connecticut; and Springfield, Massachusetts. From Hartford northward to St...
in the village square. VT 16 then turns south along US 5 along a short wrong-way concurrency to Eastern Avenue, where VT 16 continues eastward. After leaving the village, the road name becomes Willoughby Lake Road and runs for another six miles (10 km) skirting around Barton Mountain as it heads into the town of Westmore
Westmore, Vermont
Westmore is a town in Orleans County, Vermont, United States. The population was 306 at the 2000 census, making it the least populated town in the county...
. It ends just after entering Westmore at an intersection with Vermont Route 5A
Vermont Route 5A
Vermont Route 5A is a state highway in northeastern Vermont, United States. It is an alternate route of U.S. Route 5 that passes along the east shore of Lake Willoughby...
, about one mile north of the Westmore center at the north shore of Lake Willoughby
Lake Willoughby
Lake Willoughby is a lake in the town of Westmore in Orleans County in the northeast section of Vermont, United States. Willoughby is a glacial lake over deep in places, the deepest lake entirely contained in the state....
.
History
The portion of VT 16 west of US 5 was originally numbered in 1922 as part of Route 12Route 12 (New England)
New England Route 12 was a multi-state north–south state highway in the New England region of the United States, running from Groton, Connecticut, through Worcester, Massachusetts, and Keene, New Hampshire, to Morrisville, Vermont. Its number dates from 1922, when it was a New England...
of the New England road marking system. Route 12 was a multi-state route known as the "Keene Way" that began in New London, Connecticut
New London, Connecticut
New London is a seaport city and a port of entry on the northeast coast of the United States.It is located at the mouth of the Thames River in New London County, southeastern Connecticut....
, passing through Worcester, Massachusetts
Worcester, Massachusetts
Worcester is a city and the county seat of Worcester County, Massachusetts, United States. Named after Worcester, England, as of the 2010 Census the city's population is 181,045, making it the second largest city in New England after Boston....
and Keene, New Hampshire
Keene, New Hampshire
Keene is a city in Cheshire County, New Hampshire, United States. The population was 23,409 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Cheshire County.Keene is home to Keene State College and Antioch University New England, and hosts the annual Pumpkin Fest...
before entering Vermont. In Vermont, it passed through Montpelier
Montpelier, Vermont
Montpelier is a city in the U.S. state of Vermont that serves as the state capital and the shire town of Washington County. As the capital of Vermont, Montpelier is the site of the Vermont State House, seat of the legislative branch of Vermont government. The population was 7,855 at the 2010...
and continued north through the village of Barton
Barton (village), Vermont
Barton is a village located near the center of the town of Barton, in Orleans County, Vermont, United States. The population was 742 at the 2000 census.-Government:...
, ending at the city of Newport
Newport (city), Vermont
Newport is a city in and the shire town of Orleans County, Vermont, United States. As of the 2000 census, the city population was 5,005. The city contains the largest population of any government in the county, yet encompasses the smallest area....
. When the Vermont state highway system was officially created in 1931, New England Route 12 became Vermont Route 12
Vermont Route 12
Vermont Route 12 is a north-south state highway in Vermont that runs from Weathersfield to Morrisville.-Route description:Route 12 begins at the New Hampshire state line on the Connecticut River in the town of Weathersfield. It continues north along the west bank of the Connecticut River,...
, running 157 miles (252.7 km) from Ascutney
Ascutney, Vermont
Ascutney is an unincorporated village and census-designated place in the town of Weathersfield, Windsor County, Vermont, United States. It is located in the northeastern section of Weathersfield, in the portion of that town adjacent to Mount Ascutney, after which the village is...
to the city of Newport. In 1955, a new route from Montpelier to Morrisville
Morrisville, Vermont
Morrisville is a village in Morristown, Lamoille County, Vermont, United States. As of the 2000 census, the village population was 2,009. Morrisville has 2 country clubs, a hospital, a school featuring Greek architecture and an airport. The hospital and one of the country clubs are named after...
was added to the state highway system as the "Montpelier-Morrisville State Highway". At around the same time, the road from Barton village to Westmore center had been designated as VT 56.
By 1967, several changes had taken place to the state route designations in the area. North of Montpelier, VT 12 was relocated to use the Montpelier-Morrisville State Highway. The original VT 12 alignment north of Montpelier was split into two routes. The Montpelier-Hardwick segment was assigned as an extension of Vermont Route 14
Vermont Route 14
Vermont Route 14 is a north–south state highway in northeastern Vermont, United States. It is long and extends from U.S. Route 4 and U.S. Route 5 in White River Junction to Vermont Route 100 in Newport. Between White River Junction and the city of Barre, the route parallels Interstate 89. Vermont...
, while the Hardwick-Barton segment was re-designated as Vermont Route 16. The Barton-Newport segment, which overlapped with U.S. Route 5
U.S. Route 5
U.S. Route 5 is a north–south United States highway running through the New England states of Connecticut, Massachusetts, and Vermont. Significant cities along the route include New Haven, Connecticut; Hartford, Connecticut; and Springfield, Massachusetts. From Hartford northward to St...
, became just U.S. Route 5. VT 16 was later extended along old VT 56 to its current northern terminus at VT 5A.