A slow-go on Neversink underpass work
Rain runoff has delayed till spring completion of stonearch bridge repairs
Work on the East Neversink Road railroad underpass in Exeter Township is moving ahead, but slowly.
Laurie Getz, Exeter’s director of communications and community engagement, said a contractor for Norfolk Southern began work last year to increase clearance at the underpass, but progress has been slowed by winter weather.
“A stretch of cold weather shut down the asphalt plants temporarily,” Getz said, noting that township Engineer Joseph P. Rogosky reported on the progress at the Jan. 26 supervisors meeting.
Runoff from the recent rains also has delayed completion of the work, she said.
Reopening, originally expected by the end of December, has been pushed to spring, Getz said.
The stone-arch bridge that carries two tracks over East Neversink and Painted Sky roads was closed four years ago for repairs.
As part of the project, Norfolk Southern installed a metal structure limiting height under the span to about 11 feet 6 inches. The township objected, saying the railroad company overrode the specifications in the state Public Utility Commission permit, and the PUC ordered Norfolk to remedy the problem.
PUC intervenes
It took years of efforts by township officials before the PUC stepped in and gave Norfolk Southern until the end of June to correct the clearance issues.
The PUC issued an extension after that deadline was missed.
In the meantime, residents on their way to the nearby township-owned Trout Run sports and recycling complex continued to be frustrated by the seemingly endless 3-mile detour.
At least one business, J.P. Mascaro & Sons, also has been impacted by the closure. About 50 trucks a day enter and leave the solid waste and recycling facility on West Neversink Road, which is on the other side of the blocked passageway.
Those trucks must travel through the nearby Crestwood neighborhood.