By Justin Franz

MIDDLEBURY, Vermont — The Vermont Rail System is detouring trains between Rutland and Burlington, Vermont, over the New England Central, starting today while two highway overpasses are replaced with a tunnel in Middlebury.

The Vermont Agency of Transportation is working with VRS to replace two century-old highway overpasses in downtown Middlebury. The state has wanted to replace the bridges for more than 25 years. In 2017, officials became even more concerned when concrete began to fall on to the tracks. Two temporary bridges were built and the originals were torn down. Now the state plans on replacing the two temporary bridges, which are just 300 feet apart, with a new tunnel. The project will allow the railroad to move higher cars through Middlebury and give the town more park space.

VRS will detour its Rutland to Burlington road freight over New England Central to Bellows Falls where it will head to Rutland on the Green Mountain. Vice President Selden Houghton told Railfan & Railroad that the detours are expected to last until the end of September.