The detour around Interstate 91 between Bradford and Fairlee is over

The detour around Interstate 91 between Bradford and Fairlee is over. The Vermont Agency of Transportation (VTrans) reopened a single southbound lane between exits 15 and 16 at noon Friday. The roughly 6-mile stretch had been closed since April as crews worked to stabilize a rock face that partially collapsed in February. The closure significantly impacted traffic in the area. Fairlee Police Chief Wayne Briggs reported on social media that more than 1.4 million vehicles traveled southbound on Route 5 through Fairlee Village during the seven-month detour. The true number may have been 10% higher due to a resetting error with the vehicle counter, Briggs said. Work crews will continue drilling for rock dowel installation next week, but Route 5 detours and temporary signals are no longer needed, VTrans said.