Waitsfield’s 2025 paving season kicks off Monday, April 28, with three significant road projects aimed at improving driving conditions, pedestrian safety, and long-term infrastructure. Road commissioner Charlie Goodman said the work will stretch from the Covered Bridge in the village all the way to the town line on East Warren Road — and wrap up with improvements along the Slow Road near the Mad River Green Shopping Center.
“This is the biggest paving season we’ve had in a while,” Goodman said. “We’re essentially redoing all of East Warren Road, and finally resurfacing Slow Road, which has held up really well but is due.”
Three Roads
The first phase will focus on East Warren Road from the Covered Bridge to Joslin Hill Road. That stretch will be milled down to dirt, with new culverts installed and the road widened slightly to create a safer, dedicated pedestrian lane.
“It’s tight and dangerous right now,” Goodman said. “We’re aiming for a couple extra feet of space — even just a three-foot shoulder will be a big improvement for walkers.”
Once that section is completed, the crew will move uphill and continue paving from Joslin Hill Road to the Waitsfield-Warren town line.
The third and final leg of the project is the resurfacing of the Slow Road — a publicly maintained road that parallels Route 100 at the north end of the Mad River Green Shopping Center. Unlike the privately owned entrances to the plaza, which are in disrepair and outside town responsibility, the Slow Road was originally built by the town and has lasted over two decades despite heavy use, Goodman said.
“That road sees a ton of tractor-trailer traffic, delivery trucks, and everything else,” Goodman said. “It’s held up great, but now it’s time for a shim and overlay.”
Crews also plan to pave a wide pull-off area in front of the Irasville Country Store, which is currently rutted and muddy. That space will become official overflow parking, helping to reduce congestion and wear on surrounding areas.
Big Savings
The total cost of the three projects is $648,174 — approximately $200,000 less than originally estimated. That savings, Goodman said, is due to falling oil prices, which directly affect the cost of asphalt, and efficient project planning.
“We rebid it a couple times over the past two years, and when Pike Industries came in, we locked in a better price,” he said. “Plus, we’ve got a $175,000 grant from the state that we have to use this year, and the rest of the funding has already been saved up in reserve.”
There will be no tax increase to cover the work, and Goodman said the goal is to have everything wrapped up by Memorial Day — weather permitting.
Shopping center entrances
One recurring question from residents: why doesn’t the town pave the rutted entrances to the Mad River Green shopping center?
“The short answer is, those roads are private,” Goodman explained. “They were built before the town built Slow Road, and we’ve never owned or maintained them.”
However, Goodman said he’s reached out to the property manager and encouraged them to partner with the town’s paving contractor for better pricing. It’s unclear whether the shopping center, currently undergoing an ownership transition, will take advantage of the offer, he said.
“If they jump on with us, they could save thousands in mobilization and asphalt costs,” he said. “It’s a great opportunity. We’ll see what they decide.”
In the meantime, Goodman urges residents to take alternate routes during construction and be patient with delays. “It’s going to be a little rough for a few weeks, but by summer, we’ll be in great shape.”
