Work at U.S. 12, County Line Road was unexpected
(The following story by Jon Seidel appeared on the Post-Tribune website on September 30, 2010.)
CHICAGO— City Attorney Carl Jones said City Hall was “disturbed” to learn the CSX railroad company closed its crossing on County Line Road near U.S. 20 this week without Gary’s permission.
But now that work has started there, Jones said it’s best to let CSX finish its job. It should be done Saturday.
“We are not condoning this type of behavior,” Jones said.
“We’re looking into any sort of code violations,” Jones said.
A CSX spokeswoman said her company discovered a damaged section of rail at the crossing last week. She said CSX decided to put safety first and move up previously planned work on the crossing.
Miller residents have been riled by a series of railroad closures in their east-side neighborhood, leaving limited access to several areas.
The Northern Indiana Commuter Transportation District is replacing a bridge near Old Hobart Road and Miller Avenue, closing off a route to and from U.S. 12 that avoids railroad tracks.
A crossing at U.S. 12 and Clay Street has also been closed. Miller’s City Council representative, Marilyn Krusas, said she was worried Tuesday because she heard a closure was imminent at U.S. 12 and County Line Road.
Krusas called it a “crisis.”
That closure didn’t happen Wednesday. Indiana Department of Transportation spokeswoman Angie Fegaras said a project is being planned there, but it won’t require a road closure. She said there will likely be minor restrictions for one day.
INDOT intends to install a set of barriers to stop motorists from driving around lowered railroad crossing gates.
Planning Director Christopher Meyers said a paving project is also planned on Old Hobart Road starting Oct. 27, which will restrict traffic. The work will begin at the Lake Station border and continue to Miller Avenue, where NICTD’s bridge project is under way.
Meyers said the paving project has been coordinated to reach the NICTD site after work there is finished Nov. 15.
“The section that’s currently closed will be the last section completed,” Meyers said.