News from the Select Board

Main Street Bridge and the Pedestrian Bridge Project....
Latest Update on Main Street Bridge Closure:  Progress is being made!  Paving is planned for Wednesday, November 2nd. The replacement concrete pour happened on Wednesday, October 19, with a 10-day cure period after that.  Then comes installation of the replacement membrane and repaving the bridge.  The project also includes repair of potholes on Main St. near Mill St.  Construction and bridge closure started Monday morning, October 10, with the work expected to take one month.  Weather permitting, it seems like we'll be done by then, with a pedestrian bridge providing safe access from the village to Rte 2 and the Town Hall-Opera House, and a safer bridge for vehicles as well. Thank you all for your patience!
And many, many thanks to folks in the community who put together this wonderful map showing the area and what the approved detour is.  Here's a link to a printable map (8 1/2 x 14 paper needed).  Please patronize local businesses!!!
  • PLEASE NOTE:  Rte 2 is open for through traffic coming from the west (East Montpelier) to the east (Marshfield and St. Johnsbury) AND traffic coming from the east (Marshfield, St. Johnsbury) going west (to East Montpelier, Montpelier).  Apologies that the signage on Rte 2 East does not reflect this.
  • Take care as you use back roads to detour from and to Rte 2: please don't speed; drive carefully and slowly as roads are narrow and may be slippery in rainy weather; remember that folks on horseback may be on the roads; and drive slowly to avoid hitting a deer or a cow which may have wandered onto a road you are using for a detour. Let's help each other stay safe!
  • The only official detour for drivers coming on Rte 2 to Plainfield village, or returning to Rte 2, is via Country Club Road, see map above.  Other local roads aren't up to the traffic challenges that using them brings.
  • Pedestrians will be able to cross the bridge during construction.
  • Contact the Plainfield Co-op about their plans to have a drop-off depot on the Rte  2 side of the bridge for orders.  Once things are set up, the Co-op will be looking for volunteers to staff the drop-off spot on weekdays from 4-6 p.m. Look for the Co-op email blast due to come out soon.
  • Parking in the village is available at the Park-and-Ride, Mill Street Park and the Recreation Field.
  • Public parking on the Rte 2 side of the bridge will also be available across from the Opera House except for two days (10/22-23) and at Dan Dolan's soon-to-be Outer Spice Cafe (former Maple Valley Cafe)
A little history on full closure of the bridge:  The Select Board received new information at it's Special Select Board meeting on September 15, 2022 about problems with the capacity of the Main Street Bridge's northern sidewalk to handle heavy traffic  Based on the information, the Select Board voted to approve shutting down the entire bridge for 28 days.  This is for the installation of the damaged membrane, removing damaged concrete to assess the condition of the bridge, pouring replacement concrete and repaving the bridge and potholes adjacent to the bridge.  The motion also included that,  between now and the beginning of the project, the Town will work to put in place providing monetary support for local businesses that need it, and also will work with and on behalf of Fire and Rescue to arrange for emergency services for parts of the town that they won't be able to reach.  In addition, the motion called for the Town asking that the contractor make every effort to accomplish the work that needs to be done in less than 28 days.  As frustrating as this decision is to many in town, let's continue to work together to make the impact on our Fire and Rescue department and other town departments, and local businesses as minimal as possible.  Also, please patronize local businesses now and during the construction!  Your help with creative ideas and carrying them out is much appreciated. 
Previously, on June 27, 2022, the Select Board held a meeting the sole focus of which was whether to retain one-lane traffic or shut down the bridge entirely to make repairs to the bridge and to complete the Pedestrian Bridge project.  The video of that meeting is now available online along with the repair cost estimates presented at that meeting.  On August 26, 2022, George Cushing filed a petition requesting that construction be stopped until Spring 2023.  Additional resources will be added to this page shortly.
Pedestrian Bridge Project construction started in July 2021.  This project has been underway since 2013!  Documents and records below help provide some of the history of this project. News articles from the Times Argus over time....
Plainfield bridge replacement takes next steps, May 22, 2019
Drivers causing issues at Rt2/Main Street intersection, September 13, 2021
Bridge not as structurally sound as reported, November 17, 2021
Plainfield bridge expected to revert to two lanes by Christmas, December 16, 2021
Officials discuss timing for Plainfield bridge resurfacing, August 12, 2022
Plainfield may need to close Main Street bridge for resurfacing after all, September 7, 2022
Plainfield board weighs bridge closure again...., September 13, 2022
Bridge work a go in Plainfield, September 19, 2022
Main Street bridge resurfacing expected to start early next month in Plainfield, September 22, 2022
Plainfield told Main Street bridge in better shape than feared, October 19, 2022


Important Decisions for Plainfield.....
Plainfield has received $188,622.33 in American Rescue Plan Act funds and will be receiving a total of $377,245 in ARPA funds.  Now we have the important decision of how to best use these funds for our community.  At our September 21 Select Board meeting, we received input from town departments and citizens.  Feel free to continue to let the Select Board know your thoughts about the best use of these funds. The Select Board is also considering appointing a committee to help with this task. Let us know if you would be interested in serving on this advisory committee.
As you think about how these funds can be used for our town, you need to know that Congress made some restrictions on how this money can be used by communities and hasn't yet issued final regulations.
At present, there are four broad criteria for eligible uses for ARPA funding:
1.  To respond to the public health emergency or its negative impacts
  • COVID mitigation, prevention, or response measures - this could include improving ventilation in town buildings
  • responding to negative economic impacts: assistance to households, small businesses, and nonprofits, or aid to impacted industries such as tourism, travel, and hospitality
2.  Premium pay (hazard pay) for essential workers  
  • Can be applied retroactively for work performed since start of COVID public health emergency
  • Workers who have already received premium pay remain eligible for additional payments
3. Revenue Loss: funds to offset loss of public sector revenue
4.  Water, sewer, or broadband infrastructure
  • Water and sewer infrastructure projects are generally eligible if they are eligible under the EPA Clean Water State Revolving Loan Fund or the EPA Drinking Water State Revolving Loan Fund
  • General infrastructure spending is not covered as an eligible use outside of water, sewer, and broadband investments
We look forward to receiving your thoughts for this important resource.

Other Major Projects for Plainfield.....
Route 2-Main Street Remediation Project has been under consideration in Plainfield for many years.  Documents relating to this project going back to March 2005 are available at the Route 2-Main Street Interesection page on our website. 

Replacement of the bridge over Great Brook on Brook Road has been of concern for Plainfield for many years.  Largely funded by FEMA, Plainfield's 25% share of the $1,242,496 bridge construction cost is $310,642.  Below are documents to help you understand the history of the Great Brook Bridge Replacement Project and concerns:  
Pedestrian Bridge Project construction started in July 2021.  This project has been underway since 2013!  Documents and records below help provide some of the history of this project. Notice of Intent to Sell Municipal Property
On August 5, 2021 the Plainfield Select Board issued a Notice of Intent to Sell Municipal Property relating to the Old Fire House at 30  School Street.  No petition to require a town vote was received.
























​Below are various newspaper articles relating to the Town of Plainfield:
Town Office
149 Main Street
PO Box 217
Plainfield, VT 05667
802-454-8461
Town Hall Opera House
18 High Street
Plainfield, VT 05667
802-454-1286
Plainfield Town Charter
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