WEST RUTLAND — A small house on Main Street will be demolished sometime this winter as part of a town project to help alleviate traffic near the high school and public library.

On Wednesday, town manager Mary Ann Goullete said the town is in the process of closing a deal on a house located at the corner of Main Street and High Street that had been previously purchased during a tax sale last year. She said the house was not redeemed after the sale and the homeowner has agreed to sell the house to the town for $7,400.

“It was a tax sale situation that was not redeemed as of Nov. 1,” Goulette said. “We are going to raze it to open up the street to two way traffic.”

She said the total cost of the purchase will be about $8,000 after some attorney and tax fees. The money for the purchase will come the town’s budget surplus.

“It was not budgeted this year, but we feel it’s a good investment for the town,” Goullete said. “It’s an eye-sore for the town.”

The road, which also comes out next to the West Rutland High School, is one-way traffic going south off of Main Street. Because of how it currently runs, parents and students trying to leave the school and go south will have to sit in traffic or go through several residential areas before hitting any major artery.

For the complete story, see Thursday's Rutland Herald.