Norfolk Southern is closing several of its railroad crossings in Brackenidge and Tarentum at the same time on Monday and closing two others on Tuesday.
The simultaneous closing of the crossings during the day has prompted the Highlands School District to have a remote learning day on Monday.
The school district’s announcement says the Monday closings will greatly impact bus transportation routes.
The district will operate on a one-hour delay Monday to allow students time to log into their devices and access the Zoom links in their Google classrooms. The district asks families to review its School Cancellations and Delay Procedures for more details. It is available at https://www.goldenrams.com/Page/6080.
Transportation schedules for students who attend schools outside of the Highlands School District will run as usual; however, there will be no transportation for students who attend Forbes Road CTC.
Although the district’s announcement did not mention any changes to its normal class routine on Tuesday, Norfolk Southern also plans on working on two crossings in West Tarentum during the day.
Tarentum officials sent out an alert via its Savvy Citizen app that said the Monday crossing closures will occur at Mike Lock Lane and Morgan Street in Brackenridge and Bridge Street, Corbet Street and Lock Street in Tarentum.
It said Tuesday’s crossing closures will be at Center Street and at Grantham Street in West Tarentum.
Tarentum’s Savvy Citizen alert said the crossings would reopen at night.
The repairs will be particularly welcomed by motorists who drive across the railroad tracks at Corbet Street or Lock Street.
There are huge craters that sit under both, meaning a less bumpy ride for the hundreds who cross there daily.
Heather Garcia, senior communications manager, said crews typically put a temporary gravel crossing down while the pavement is torn up so vehicles can continue to drive across the area before it is paved.
“We generally finish repaving crossings within about three days of it being torn up,” Garcia said. “We appreciate the community’s patience while we complete this important maintenance work.”
It is part of Nortfolk Southern’s work in the Alle-Kiski Valley that included repairs in the Natrona neighborhood of Harrison this week.
Tarentum Council has been lobbying for repairs since spring. They sought answers from Norfolk Southern in April and then throughout the summer as the potholes grew. They called the potholes at the crossings a menace to drivers.
The borough could not do the work because the crossings are the railroad’s jurisdiction.
Borough Manager Dwight Boddorf said the repairs are crucial for safety and accessibility because the roads are heavily traveled.
“We are thankful for Norfolk Southern’s responsiveness to our requests,” council President Scott Dadowski said. “Our council has been persistent in addressing these concerns and assuring that the safety and well-being of our residents remains a top priority.”
Boddorf said residents have voiced concern about the potholes, which have sunk and multiplied over the months.
Pedestrians are asked to be careful around the work zones.