Champlain Parkway Has Made Little Difference to Traffic, Drivers Say

Drivers report seeing little change in traffic patterns five months after the Champlain Parkway opened in Burlington.

The project, which opened in June following 66 years of development, was intended to create a faster route into downtown Burlington and alleviate congestion. However, local commuters interviewed by WCAX say the intended relief has yet to materialize in their daily travels.

“I guess I haven’t really been paying attention, but I haven’t really seen much of a change, to be honest with you,” Graham Fisk told WCAX.

While some drivers noted minor shifts, the overall consensus among those interviewed suggests the new infrastructure hasn’t significantly altered the driving experience. Mike Huffman told WCAX, “It seems like there might be a little less traffic on Shelburne Road.”

Drivers say Champlain Parkway has made little difference in five months — WCAX Channel 3 News

The disconnect between driver perception and official goals centers on whether the parkway can meet the specific reduction targets set years ago. During a pre-construction presentation in 2019, city officials outlined a specific vision for how the new route would redistribute vehicle volume.

Planners calculated that the Interstate 189 off-ramp to Shelburne Road currently handles roughly 40,000 vehicles a day. The goal of the parkway was to divert approximately 10,000 of those vehicles onto the new route, theoretically easing the burden on existing local roads.

Location/Metric	Pre-Construction Estimate	Projected Reduction
I-189 off-ramp to Shelburne Road	40,000 vehicles daily	10,000 vehicles daily

Whether these estimates hold true remains an open question for the city. The actual traffic impact for commuters is not yet known, as the city of Burlington has been monitoring data along the parkway since its opening in June.

Official numbers regarding these shifts are set to be released in the coming months. Until that data is made public, the effectiveness of the 66-year development remains a matter of individual observation rather than statistical certainty.

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