Local News

Decatur railroad intersections to close for about one week

This is the railroad intersection at Decatur’s Candler Street, taken before the road was raised several weeks ago. Both this and the McDonough Street railroad crossing will be closed for at least seven days beginning June 19 for improvements and rebuilding. Bill Banks file photo for the AJC
This is the railroad intersection at Decatur’s Candler Street, taken before the road was raised several weeks ago. Both this and the McDonough Street railroad crossing will be closed for at least seven days beginning June 19 for improvements and rebuilding. Bill Banks file photo for the AJC
By Bill Banks
June 16, 2017

CSX begins rebuilding the Decatur railroad crossings at Candler and McDonough Streets June 19, the work continuing uninterrupted for at least seven days or until the project’s completed. Deputy City Manager Hugh Saxon points out rain could delay the project.

Both crossings will be closed to automobile traffic until the work’s complete, and the city has suggested detours on its website at http://www.decaturmakeover.com/.

This work, which has been planned for years, includes:

*Building gentler slopes on the north side of each crossing, which is mostly completed.

*Pedestrian crosswalks on the east side of both intersections—or outside the railroad crossing gates—and just north of the Candler crossing connecting to the sidewalk alongside the Depot. This significantly improves the accessibility and safety for pedestrians, cyclists, wheelchairs and strollers, which currently share the roadway with vehicles at these crossings.

*Both intersections get new traffic signals on either side of the tracks allowing for protected left turns at all intersections.

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Bill Banks

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