Major I-89 Bridge Interchange First in Vermont to Use Glavel's Recycled Foamed Glass Aggregate as Roadway Bridge Approach Foundation

September 30, 2025 at 15:15 PM EDT

Glavel's foamed glass aggregate (FGA), manufactured in Vermont from 100% recycled glass, played a key role in the new Exit 17 bridge interchange in Colchester, VT. FGA was specified to address challenging clay soils; it provided a lightweight, stable, bridge approach foundation while advancing Vermont's climate goals. The success of the project demonstrates the potential for FGA in future infrastructure applications nationwide.

BURLINGTON, VT / ACCESS Newswire / September 30, 2025 / Glavel, Inc. a Vermont-based manufacturer of foamed glass aggregate (FGA) announces its essential role in the recently opened Exit 17 bridge project in Colchester, Vermont. Delivered by the Vermont Agency of Transportation (VTrans), the project showcases how materials like Glavel's FGA can solve long-standing geotechnical challenges and support resilient infrastructure.

The Exit 17 bridge carries Route 2 over I-89 and replaces a 1960s-era bridge that had reached the end of its useful life. The new bridge was built with a 125-year lifespan and was designed to improve traffic flow and safety at one of Chittenden County's busiest interchanges.

Given the region's deep clay soils and the associated risks of settlement and instability, FGA offered the ideal solution. Projects of this type traditionally require costly excavation or sheet piles to address these soils. VTrans specified FGA instead, a lightweight, free-draining material manufactured from 100% recycled glass at Glavel's facility in Essex, Vermont.

"Exit 17 is a milestone for Vermont infrastructure and for Glavel," said Rob Conboy, Founder and CEO of Glavel. "By using FGA, we supported a novel engineered solution. Glavel helped align the project with Vermont's climate goals by producing GLAVEL with 100% recycled glass in a facility that is powered by 100% carbon free electricity."

FGA was used behind the bridge's mechanically stabilized earth walls, providing stability on the Champlain Valley's clay soils. The material proved highly workable on site: machinery could operate right at the edge of placement, lifts were contained with geogrid, and excavators with low-pressure tracks handled installation efficiently.

The success of Exit 17 highlights the potential for broader applications of FGA across the nation's transportation network, including bridge replacements, culverts, and drainage improvements. For more information please see the full case study here: https://www.glavel.com/exit-17/

About Glavel
Glavel manufactures foamed glass aggregate (FGA); a lightweight, insulating, free-draining material made from 100% post-consumer recycled glass. Produced in Essex, Vermont, Glavel supports high-performance construction and infrastructure while advancing decarbonization and circular economy goals.

Media Contact:
Tor Dworshak
Director of Marketing
Glavel, Inc.
(802) 540-0843x103
tor_d@glavel.com

SOURCE: Glavel

View the original press release on ACCESS Newswire

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Major I-89 Bridge Interchange First in Vermont to Use Glavel's Recycled Foamed Glass Aggregate as Roadway Bridge Approach Foundation

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