Vermont uses new technology to speed bridge repair

MONTPELIER, Vt. (AP) — Last month, construction crews placed a series of hollow tubes over the Wanzer Brook in Fairfield as part of a Vermont Transportation Agency program that uses new technology to cut construction time, save money and reduce the backlog of bridges that need replacement.

The tubes, made of material that is impervious to the elements, have since been filled with concrete and construction crews are laying a deck across the top. The bridge, just under 35 feet long, should be ready for traffic within a few weeks, a fraction of the time it would take to build a traditional bridge.