Rail crossing work to affect 3 city roads

Norfolk Southern closures could continue into next week

Mentor motorists will see closures at multiple railroad crossings in the community.

Norfolk Southern is scheduled to perform repair and maintenance work at three locations east of Route 615. Each crossing will be closed for at least two days, but potentially longer. Affected roads are: • Maple Street • Hart Street • Station Street The work was to begin Aug. 9 and 10. Initially, maintenance was planned at two

additional crossings, at Hopkins Road and Patterson Drive. However, that plan was altered the afternoon of Aug. 10.

“It’s going to be a minimum of two days, but mostly the work will take through the weekend to complete as crews make their way down the tracks,” said Ante Logarusic, Mentor community relations administrator.

“Our recommended detour is going to be taking people over Route 615 or Heisley (Road). Avoid the area, if you can.”

Safety forces will be contacted prior to closures, said Lisa McCauley, RoadSafe Traffic Systems Inc. project coordinator. The company provides traffic control for Norfolk Southern.

“The rail gang’s schedule/progress is impossible to predict since they are not given specific hours or time to get out to do their work,” she said, in an email to Mentor city administrators. “They must receive track time from dispatch to be allowed on the tracks. Some days they get several hours at a time and other days they get no time at all.”

The work entails removal of the crossings prior to repairs, which are followed by repaving the site. The rail crews and subsequent pavers don’t work on weekends, and closures may remain in place during that time. RoadSafe technicians work Monday through Sunday, McCauley said.