Repairs to the Webster Street railroad crossing in Montgomery will begin this month.
The crossing over the Burlington Northern Santa Fe railroad tracks is home to a steady flow of traffic on a daily basis, but the crossing was ranked as “one of the worst in the area with regards to being a rough crossing,” said Montgomery Public Works Director Todd Hoppenstedt.
He said the rubber panels that make up the crossing have become “uneven and detached” over time. He said the panels will be removed and replaced with prefabricated concrete panels that will be anchored down into the railroad ties below the surface.
Montgomery officials said that, once completed, the crossing should be similar to the newly improved Watkins Street crossing just a few blocks south.
The work should begin Nov. 20. The crossing will be closed from 7 a.m. Nov. 20 until 5 p.m. Nov. 24 for the work. Advanced warning signs will be placed in the area at least five days prior to the closure. The crossing will be closed to both vehicle and pedestrian traffic during construction.
Hoppenstedt told trustees he was ” happy to see the railway complete this project this year, given the difficulty the current crossing presents motorists as well as snow plow operators.”
Judy Pochel is a freelance writer for The Beacon-News.