CSX: Atmore Crossing Work Should End This Week

February 19, 2015

For the past couple of weeks, driver in Atmore have experienced delays due to closed railroad crossings as CSX upgrades tracks through the city.

That work, according to CSX, is expected to soon be completed/

“CSX engineering crews are laying new rail, new rail ties, resurfacing crossings and repaving them with asphalt. CSX has worked closely with local officials to coordinate the crossing closures to minimize disruption to the community,” said Kristin Seay, spokesperson for CSX. “Several of the crossings have already been re-opened.  The remainder of the work is expected to be completed by the end of this week.”

Seay said the Atmore track upgrades are part of CSX’s network-wide infrastructure maintenance program.

“Maintaining railroad infrastructure is critical to minimizing service disruptions and preventing accidents and injuries. CSX spends more than $1 billion annually on improving and maintaining track, bridges, signals and other equipment to keep freight moving safely and reliably. We appreciate the patience of community residents as we complete this work as safely and efficiently as possible,” she said.

Crossings at Industrial Drive and Main Street were the only crossings that remained closed as of late Wednesday.

Pictured top: The Industrial Drive railroad crossing in Atmore remained closed Wednesday afternoon. Picture inset and below: Traffic backed-up at the Main Street crossing last week. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.

Comments

3 Responses to “CSX: Atmore Crossing Work Should End This Week”

  1. Baebae on February 20th, 2015 5:34 pm

    this is better than a fiery derailment…anytime….look at what happened in West Va this week…new track thru the city of Atmore…the last time that happened was in 1988…new rail and ties and switches….now in 2015…our tracks were 27 years old
    ….how many are still driving their cars from 1988

  2. I Asked on February 19th, 2015 8:10 am

    I personally talked to the guy in charge at CSX of this project because I wanted answers. I bothered him while he was eating lunch at Busters. Turns out he’s a former resident of Atmore and he told me he understands the frustration but that he was just working the plan that was approved by the city months ago. I feel bad for the guy and his men getting so much flack from residents of his former hometown. I bet he’s glad he don’t live here no more – how embarrassing. I am embarrassed that I bothered him. He said that CSX plans this work up to a year in advance and an independent firm is hired to get with the city with the plan. The city approves the plan MONTHS in advance. The plan included the timing of crossing closings and he said while he knows it seems ridiculous that they had to close so many at once it is simply the way it is done because of the process of all that had to be replaced, the machinery involved, etc. After talking to him it seems to me the city dropped the ball in informing citizens and business owners in advance. Regardless the work is being done for safety. We citizens need to remember that we are a railroad town – Williams Station Day is more than a day to buy arts and craft items – it’s a celebration of our railroad history in Atmore. But I am glad the work is almost over.

  3. Crossing Guard on February 19th, 2015 7:26 am

    I don’t think anyone in Atmore would want CSX to neglect their rails or their crossings….yet how much concern went into minimizing the disruptions to residents and downtown businesses? I guess they think we should all just be glad it didn’t take any longer than it took…

Written by William Reynolds · Filed Under News