The town of Manchester and the state of Vermont are hoping a first of its kind highway-for-cash swap will save the state money and let the town fulfill a goal town officials have had for 30 years.
On Monday, Gov. Jim Douglas signed the paperwork that will have the town take over a 2.8-mile stretch of state highway in exchange for a $200,000 payment that will be used to help bury utility lines in downtown Manchester.
The $200,000 the state is paying will be added to another $255,000 the town has to bury the utility lines.
The utility lines will be buried while a roundabout is being built at the intersections of Vermont Routes 11 and 30 and 7A.