(The following story by Marcus Rauhut appeared on the Public Opinion website on September 16, 2010.)
ANTRIM TOWNSHIP, Pa. – Two Antrim Township residents told the state they have concerns about Norfolk Southern’s plan to alter rail crossings.
Norfolk Southern wants to close a portion of Milnor Road at the rail crossing and replace the existing Hykes Road crossing with a bridge so the company can build a new intermodal facility south of Greencastle.
The plan is to abandon a small section of Milnor Road at the crossing and have the road come to a cul-de-sac on both sides of the railroad track. The Hykes Road at-grade crossing with gates and lights would be shifted slightly and replaced with a bridge over the rail line.
Lester Musselman and Joan Kosola of Antrim Township filed objections with the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission, saying they have reservations about the proposed road changes.
Musselman, who lives on Talhelm Road, told a reporter he believes closing Milnor Road would be “very detrimental to the citizens of southwestern Antrim Township and beyond.
“There’s a lot of traffic coming from Coseytown Road and the southwestern part of the township that uses that to get to work, both at Grove and into Chambersburg, and they feel that’s an easy way to access (U.S.) Route 11, even heading toward Hagerstown,” he said.
Kosola, who lives on Milnor Road, declined to comment beyond her filing with the PUC. It raised concerns about access for emergency responders and paving and snow removal crews, the traffic impact on Hykes Road, and costs associated with upgrading Hykes Road to accommodate more traffic.
Norfolk Southern said in a filing Wednesday it does not believe the objections of the two residents “have any merit,” but is willing to discuss any legitimate safety concerns to settle the matter.
The issues will be reviewed at a public hearing before the PUC. A prehearing conference is set for Wednesday in Harrisburg, and an initial hearing is tentatively scheduled for Nov. 2 and 3, according to commission spokesperson.
Norfolk Southern plans to build the rail terminal on about 170 acres near Exit 3 of Interstate 81.
The abandonment of the Milnor Road crossing is required before any significant construction can start.
The company requested that the commission make a decision by Jan. 7, before the start of the spring construction season.