VTrans Attributes Rough Pavement on I-89 to 'Raveling,' Not Rutting
Drivers on Interstate 89 between Montpelier and St. Albans, Vermont, have been experiencing rough pavement, particularly in the right-hand lanes. Jeremy Reed, VTrans Highway Division chief engineer, clarified that the issue is primarily 'raveling' rather than rutting. Raveling occurs when the pavement structure begins to break down and disintegrate, often due to a combination of increasing vehicle traffic and heavy commercial loads. Reed explained that in severe cases, drivers might end up traveling on the layer beneath the surface pavement. VTrans has not identified a single cause but suggests that thinner pavement treatments applied five to eight years ago as preservation measures may have reached the end of their lifespan, contributing to the current condition. 
