Upgrades to start soon on railroad crossing among most dangerous
Work will begin this weekend to ensure the safety of a Phoenix railroad crossing identified by federal officials last year as one of the most dangerous in the country.
The Arizona Corporation Commission, which oversees railroad safety in the state, said the crossing near 35th Avenue and Indian School Road is among several in Phoenix and Glendale where safety upgrades are due.
In a 2016 survey, the Federal Railroad Administration found that five of the 15 most dangerous U.S. railroad crossings are in the Phoenix area. The list was based on the number of incidents in which trains and vehicles collided, or where people were hit by a train.
The five crossings had at least 10 accidents in the past 10 years, according to the Corporation Commission. None resulted in fatalities.
All of the crossings are near Grand Avenue, where a dense span of well-used tracks runs alongside and across the roadway.
At the crossing near 35th Avenue and Indian School Road, safety gates at the westbound crossing on Indian School will be moved closer to the tracks.
In addition, a new signal will be installed to limit the number of cars that can turn left on Indian School when a train is coming, said Angie Holdsworth, Corporation Commission spokeswoman.
Construction is expected to take 60 days.
Future improvements will be made at:
» West Thomas Road, east of 27th Avenue in Phoenix;
» North 27th Avenue, west of Thomas Road in Phoenix;
» 43rd Avenue and Grand Avenue in Glendale;
» And near 51st Avenue and Bethany Home Road in Glendale.
The improvements in Phoenix are expected to total $9.5 million. Those in Glendale will cost more than $1 million. Officials said multiple sources are expected to help pay those costs, including the federal government.