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| Vermont Route 105 | |
|---|---|
| State | Vermont |
| Type | VT |
| Route | 105 |
| Direction a | West |
| Terminus a | St. Albans |
| Direction b | East |
| Terminus b | Bloomfield |
| Counties | Franklin County, Orleans County, Caledonia County, Essex County |
Vermont Route 105
Vermont Route 105 is a numbered state highway traversing northern Vermont from St. Albans to Bloomfield. The route links rural communities, regional centers, and border corridors while intersecting major corridors and following river valleys through Lake Champlain basin and the Connecticut River watershed. It serves as a local arterial for commuter, freight, and recreational traffic connecting to Interstate 89, U.S. Route 5, and cross-border routes toward Québec.
The highway begins in St. Albans near connections to U.S. Route 7 and Interstate 89, proceeding east through Swanton and along lowland corridors adjacent to Missisquoi River and its tributaries. Continuing, the alignment crosses Richford and parallels the Missisquoi Valley Rail Trail and rail corridors serving connections toward Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu and Montreal. Eastward, the roadway traverses Rye-area uplands and descends into the Trout River valley, drawing near towns such as Enosburg Falls and Johnson, where it interfaces with regional collectors. Further along, the route follows the Lamoille River and links communities including St. Albans Bay, Cambridge, and Morrisville before turning northeast toward Newport and the Newport City area on Lake Memphremagog. The eastern section continues through Irasburg, Coventry, and Lunenburg, ultimately descending into the Connecticut River valley at Bloomfield near the Québec border.
The corridor evolved from 19th-century turnpikes, logging roads, and stagecoach routes that linked Lake Champlain ports to interior market towns and border crossings with Lower Canada. In the early 20th century, segments were part of state-maintained trunk roads created under legislation in the era of Calvin Coolidge and the expansion of automotive travel. Mid-century improvements incorporated federal-era paving programs associated with the establishment of Interstate 89 and coordination with the New England road network to improve access to Montreal and the Atlantic ports. Flood events, notably storms affecting the Missisquoi River basin and tropical systems impacting New England, prompted reconstruction projects and realignments through the late 20th century. Preservation of historic bridges and adaptation to modern freight patterns were guided by agencies including the Vermont Agency of Transportation and regional planning commissions tied to Northeast Kingdom economic initiatives.
The route intersects several principal highways and local arterials that serve intra- and inter-state movement: connections near Interstate 89 and U.S. Route 7 in St. Albans; junctions with Vermont Route 78 near Swanton; crossings of U.S. Route 5 and overlaps with regional routes in the Newport and Derby areas; links to Vermont Route 114 toward Island Pond; interfaces with Vermont Route 14 in central Vermont corridors; and eastern termini at routes serving the Connecticut River valley and crossings to Québec border facilities. These intersections provide access to Burlington, Montreal, and Portland corridors through connecting highways.
Traffic patterns reflect a mix of local commuting, seasonal tourism, recreational travel to Lake Memphremagog and winter sports areas, and agricultural and timber freight movements serving processors and markets in Franklin County and the Northeast Kingdom. Average daily traffic varies widely, with higher volumes near St. Albans and Newport and lower counts through rural stretches in Essex County. Roadway classification, maintenance, and weight limits are influenced by state permits administered by the Vermont Agency of Transportation and regional freight stakeholders including cooperative mills and distribution centers serving New England and Canadian markets.
Planned and proposed projects emphasize pavement rehabilitation, bridge replacement, resiliency upgrades tied to stormwater and floodplain management after notable river flooding events, and safety improvements at high-crash intersections coordinated with Vermont Agency of Transportation capital programs and federal funding sources administered through regional transportation planning organizations. Initiatives also consider multimodal enhancements linking to rail-trail conversions such as the Missisquoi Valley Rail Trail and tourism-oriented wayfinding to support access to Lake Champlain and Northeast Kingdom destinations. Cross-border coordination with Québec authorities and economic development entities aims to streamline freight movements and border infrastructure where the corridor approaches international crossings.
Category:State highways in Vermont