Vermont Route 116 (VT 116) is a
state highway in
Vermont
Vermont () is a state in the northeast New England region of the United States. Vermont is bordered by the states of Massachusetts to the south, New Hampshire to the east, and New York to the west, and the Canadian province of Quebec to ...
. It travels north from
U.S. Route 7
U.S. Route 7 (US 7) is a north–south United States highway in western New England that runs for through the states of Connecticut, Massachusetts, and Vermont. The highway's southern terminus is at Interstate 95 (I-95) exit 15 ...
(US 7) in
Middlebury, where it almost immediately intersects
VT 125, then runs concurrently with
VT 17 through much of the town of
Bristol
Bristol () is a city, ceremonial county and unitary authority in England. Situated on the River Avon, it is bordered by the ceremonial counties of Gloucestershire to the north and Somerset to the south. Bristol is the most populous city in ...
. VT 116 then continues north through the towns of
Starksboro and
Hinesburg before passing through the eastern portion of
Shelburne, and
Williston before ending in
South Burlington at an intersection with
US 2 (Williston Road).
Route description
VT 116 begins at an intersection with
US 7 (Court Street) in the
Addison County
Addison County is a county located in the U.S. state of Vermont. As of the 2020 census, the population was 37,363. Its shire town (county seat) is the town of Middlebury.
History
Iroquois settled in the county before Europeans arrived in 160 ...
town of
Middlebury. VT 116 runs northeast along Ossie Road, paralleling the
Middlebury River as a two-lane road for three blocks before turning north on Church Street. Going one block north, the route reaches a junction with
VT 125 (East Main Street), changing names to Case Street also immediately in East Middlebury. VT 116 winds north along Case Street, leaving East Middlebury and reaching Airport Road, which connects to
Middlebury Airport. Continuing north through Middlebury, the route becomes a lot more rural, passing farms left and right as it bends northeast. The main north–south road near the end of a ridge, VT 116 passes a small residential neighborhood at Lindale Circle, before reaching a quarry and some dense woods.
Still known as Case Street, VT 116 passes along the western edge of a nearby ridge, continuing north as it crosses into the town of
Bristol
Bristol () is a city, ceremonial county and unitary authority in England. Situated on the River Avon, it is bordered by the ceremonial counties of Gloucestershire to the north and Somerset to the south. Bristol is the most populous city in ...
. The route soon reaches a section of
Green Mountain National Forest
Green Mountain National Forest is a national forest located in Vermont, a temperate broadleaf and mixed forest typical of the New England/Acadian forests ecoregion. The forest supports a variety of wildlife, including beaver, moose, coyote, bl ...
, which runs its western edge along VT 116. After a northern turn, the route parallels the
New Haven River, which along with VT 116, bypass the hamlet of New Haven Mills. At River Road, which connects the route to New Haven Mills, VT 116 turns north along the river, soon reaching downtown Bristol. Just after Green Mountain Villa Road, VT 116 junctions with
VT 17 (Stony Hill Road). At this point, the routes become
concurrent
Concurrent means happening at the same time. Concurrency, concurrent, or concurrence may refer to:
Law
* Concurrence, in jurisprudence, the need to prove both ''actus reus'' and ''mens rea''
* Concurring opinion (also called a "concurrence"), a ...
and run east along Stony Hill past Greenwood Cemetery. Turning southeast down a switchback, the routes become known as West Street, entering the center of Bristol. Now the main west–east street, passing numerous businesses before reaching North Street, where the routes change to Main Street.
The routes soon leave the center of Bristol, becoming known as Rockydale Road as it runs along the northern end of Green Mountain National Forest and paralleling the New Haven River. At Lincoln Road, VT 17 and VT 116 turns north around a ridge, bypassing the hamlet of South Starksboro, near where VT 17 turns to the northeast at Drake Woods Road. VT 116 runs north and northwest through Bristol, running through flat lands and woods for a distance. Crossing into the town of
Starksboro, the route remains a rural highway, soon reaching the center of Starksboro near the junction of Parsonage Road. There is not much to VT 116 through the center of Starksboro, running closer and closer to the side of a ridge before crossing into
Chittenden County. Now in the town of
Hinesburg, VT 116 soon crosses the
La Platte River, paralleling an old alignment of itself.
Passing Cedar Knoll Country Club, the route turns northwest at a junction with North Road. Now paralleling the La Platte River, VT 116 and enters the center of Hinesburg. Through Hinesburg, VT 116 is the north–south road through town, passing multiple businesses until Commerce Street, where it bends northwest and leaves downtown Hinesburg. Passing through nearby Mechanicsville, the route soon bends northeast and winds along a ridge in Hinesburg as a two-lane rural road and crossing into the town of
St. George. Gaining the name Burlington Road, VT 116 turns northwest and passing a junction with the southern terminus of
VT 2A, a spur of
US 2. Running northwest, VT 116 remains a two-lane rural road through St. George, passing around nearby Shelburne Pond.
Crossing into the town of
Williston, VT 116 becomes a flat two-lane road as It approaches and crosses into the city of
South Burlington, where it changes names to Hinesburg Road. Going north, the route passes several housing developments in the Butler Farms section. After Meadowland Drive, VT 116 crosses over
Interstate 89
Interstate 89 (I-89) is an Interstate Highway in the New England region of the United States traveling from Bow, New Hampshire, to the Canadian border between Highgate Springs, Vermont, and Saint-Armand, Quebec. As with all odd-numbered ...
(with no interchange). VT 116 bends northwest at Old Farm Road, running northwest through a heavily built-up section of South Burlington, turning north near Deane Street before turning north into a junction with US 2 (Williston Road). This junction marks the northern terminus of VT 116, which continues north as Patchen Road toward
Burlington.
Major intersections
References
External links
{{commons category, Vermont Route 116
116