MILTON, Vt. -
First responders say a new emergency access ramp will drastically cut the response time to emergencies on I-89 in Milton, Vermont.
The ramp, which was just completed, is close to an area of the highway known for crashes. The Milton Volunteer Fire Department says each year it responds to some 70 crashes around mile marker 101.
Before the ramp, firefighters had to either drive to Exit 17 or 18 and then on I-89 to the scene. That meant about a 10 mile drive from the fire station. The new ramp has cut the drive down to about a mile.
That means the previous 15 minute response time is now a couple minutes.
"Every minute is important. Not only for a fire which is easier to put out when it's small. But out here when you have a loved one that's in an accident you want to get them as soon as you can," says Lieutenant Steve Burke, from the Milton Fire Department.
Burke says they had been fighting for this new emergency access ramp to the highway for seven-years. With the help of legislators, engineers, and the state transportation department, work on the ramp started this year and just wrapped up.
Firefighters say the ramp has not been used yet. But it will clearly come in use, especially this winter when most of the crashes happen.
