The Vermont Agency of Transportation says soil contaminated with lead and another chemical contaminant has been found at the construction of a new drawbridge that will link the Lake Champlain island communities of North and South Hero.
Agency experts had expected to find lead around the 1953 bridge due to its use in painting the bridge before lead paint was banned, but the presence of polychlorinated biphenyls was unexpected.
The finding is not expected to delay construction on the $61 million bridge, one of Vermont's most expensive bridge projects, but it's unclear if it will delay completion of the project, which is expected to take two years.
The Transportation Agency is promising to work with state and federal regulators to ensure the contaminated soil is properly managed.
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