GMC Accepts Changes
by Ben Hogwood

JOHNSON - The Green Mountain Club will have to restructure aspects of
their project in Johnson regarding the Long Trail hiking bridge over the
Lamoille River after meeting with the selectboard on Monday, August 16.
While there are no problems with the plan for the actual bridge, town
officials would not approve GMC's proposed parking plan, nor would they
approve the proposed crosswalk over the Hogback Road.
Duncan Hastings, Johnson Town and Village administrator, said the
reasoning for disapproving the crosswalk and parking were due to safety
and liability issues. When a crosswalk is painted, vehicle operators
have to stop, said Hastings. However, the Hogback Road has a speed limit
of 50 miles per hour with a blind curve leading up to where the crossing
was proposed.
The parking situation is similar. The town supported the Green Mountain
Club improving parking on Route 15, rather than the Hogback Road, as the
sight distance is much greater. With the current suggested parking area
on the Hogback, drivers pulling out can see approximately 260 feet in
one direction and 280 feet the other. Hastings said the minimum sight
distance for a 50 mph road is approximately 400 feet. "The Hogback is
woefully inadequate," said Hastings, while Route 15 meets or exceeds the
necessary distance. Members of the selectboard advised digging a deeper
ditch where the pull off currently is to keep people from parking their
vehicles in that location.
The town supported the GMC's plan to post signs warning drivers of the
pedestrian crossing.
Greg Western, site supervisor with the GMC, agreed with the town's
conclusions, but said the changes will not delay the bridge moving
forward. Western said the two changes made by the town "make perfect
sense to us." GMC is still hoping to have the bridge completed by next
spring, but as all the work is being done by volunteers, there is no
fixed date.
Western said GMC must now go to the Act 250 Board for approval of the
two amendments.