Full Notification

Good afternoon,
 
I spoke with the engineer from US Steel today regarding the east bridge project. The repairs for the issues that were initially found are nearly complete, however; they did discover additional issues that need repair. With that being said, the bridge will not re-open on the expected date of March 25, 2022. There is concern about the expected weather over the next couple of days so we are probably looking at April 6, 2022.  We are prepared to staff additional units to deal with traffic issues.
 
In the last 12 days, we have only had one timely blockage by Norfolk Southern. This lasted 3 hours and was due to a train mechanical failure. We have noticed that NS is planning their stops out in an effort not to block Hillcrest. This is a very positive change. 
 
During these issues, we will continue to escort traffic to the east bridge and allow one vehicle at a time to pass. This can only occur with an officer present; the officer will contact the appropriate train to determine how long the blockage will last and then decide how to proceed.
 
If you are in Town and traffic is stopped or backed up, it is for a reason. Please do not drive around traffic in the oncoming lane of travel. We are managing these issues as they present themselves and really need your cooperation in order to safely do our jobs. Those that drive around backed up traffic or run train crossing gates will be cited.
 
I understand your frustration but please have patience. We are doing our absolute best to ensure the safety of everyone all while keeping traffic moving.
 
Have a great week and stay safe,
 
Jeremy Ogden
Chief of Police