ROYALTON — Despite the frustration of some residents, the Selectboard voted 3-2 last week to proceed with construction of a permanent span at Fox Stand Bridge, also known as Royalton Hill Bridge.
With the tie-breaking vote, Selectboard member Larry Trottier opted to finish the project as soon as possible with the smallest cost to residents.
“The taxpayers, in the end, I believe, would be better appreciative of putting in a permanent bridge and having it done with — and having our taxes not go up any more than they have to,” Trottier said of Wednesday’s afternoon vote, which was held at the Royalton Town Offices.
Wednesday’s vote was necessary after a 2-2 deadlock vote the night before, with Trottier not present on Tuesday.
Trottier was joined by members Patrick Dakin and Stuart Levasseur in opposing the installation of a temporary bridge. They mainly cited lower taxes and a faster timeline.
Selectboard members Nell Gwin and Robert Gray supported the temporary bridge, largely pointing to safety concerns and costs to affected residents.
As a result of the vote, construction of the new permanent bridge connecting Route 14 to Royalton Hill Road and Gilman Road is slated to begin in 2027 and last two construction seasons. The crossing is expected to reopen in the fall of 2028.
The total cost of the permanent bridge replacement is estimated at just under $7 million. The town’s share is $347,000, according to a handout provided by the town administrator at the Tuesday meeting.
The standing bridge, which spans 165 feet across the White River, has been closed since April 2024, when an inspection by Vermont Agency of Transportation, or VTrans, revealed that rust had corroded structural components.
The bridge repairs have faced a series of delays, with a temporary bridge initially being set for 2025 and moved to 2026. The temporary bridge was also previously set to cost the town $50,000, but grew to $150,000 after unfavorable bedrock inspections.
In mid-June, the Selectboard had voted 4-1 to forgo the temporary installation, but frustrated residents prompted further discussion.
Tuesday’s meeting drew about 40 people to the Royalton Academy Building, and many residents voiced concerns about safety, financial burdens and the unreliability of state planning.
“I understand the money costs of the bridge, but you also got a big safety concern with all the traffic on that road,” Steve Lyman, who lives at the intersection of Back River Road and Royalton Hill Road, said at Tuesday’s meeting.
“And I’m waiting for somebody to really get seriously hurt with an accident by my house,” Lyman said.
Some voiced support for the board’s decision. Sharon O’Connor, who founded the Hurricane Flats farm with her husband, Geo Honigford, thought it was more responsible to not put in a temporary bridge.
“I feel like, because of the implications on the tax group, that it makes more sense to do a permanent bridge and have it open in 2028,” O’Connor said.
Putting in a temporary bridge would increase the town’s cost for the project to $1.1 million, $787,000 more than going directly to the permanent bridge.
Meanwhile, those in favor of the temporary bridge saw it as the soonest option for a working bridge.
Additionally, those facing the consequences of the closure said that they, as a minority, were taking on the financial burden that the whole town would take on with a temporary bridge.
“Maybe this will be some savings to the town,” said resident Bradley Sick, “but basically you’re just putting that burden on a smaller percentage of the taxpayers.”
Sick said that over the past six months, the detour route has cost his household around $3,000 in time lost, gas and extra vehicle repairs.
A town handout estimates that the closed bridge costs drivers a combined $587,000 per year, with an estimated 550 drivers affected.
After hearing about the minority-burden argument from Selectboard members Gwin and Gray, Trottier doubled down on the town’s financial responsibility.
“I don’t disagree that it is going to cost (those affected) more money for two or three years, but they need to understand that we’re making this decision to be financially prudent of what the town has to spend on these different issues that we have to do,” Trottier said.
Trottier followed the arguments of Selectboard Chairman Patrick Dakin, who said at Wednesday’s vote: “I just think it’s irresponsible to kick the can down the road eight or 10 years, and just take on that cost.”
Trottier added that extra precautions will be taken for safety on detour roads.
“We can step up the maintenance, we can step up the signing (and) we can step up the patrolling to counteract the extra traffic,” Trottier said.
The town currently has $100,000 set aside for the bridge project and $12,500 in reserve. The rest needs to be raised through increased taxes.
“It’s a terrible situation,” Trottier said. “But you know, in Vermont, if you’re a real Vermonter, you kind of deal.”