Crossing projects advance in Ohio

The Public Utilities Commission of Ohio has approved construction authorization from the Ohio Rail Development Commission directing Norfolk Southern Railway to upgrade 10 grade crossings and the Indiana & Ohio Railway to upgrade one crossing.

NS will install flashing lights and roadway gates at five crossings in Clark County and four crossings in Greene County, and mast-mounted flashing lights and roadway gates at one crossing in Crawford County. Indiana & Ohio Railway will install mast-mounted flashing lights and roadway gates at a crossing in Clinton County.

NS must complete the work in Clark and Greene counties by Feb. 13, 2015. The Class I and Indiana & Ohio Railway must finish the other upgrades by Aug. 13, 2014. Funding for the projects will be covered by federal dollars.

Meanwhile, Fairfield Township, Ohio, plans to hold a public hearing Dec. 12 on the proposed closure of an NS crossing to accommodate a Buckeye Transfer Inc. facility.

The closed crossing would enable Buckeye Transfer to build a closed-loop rail to transload condensate from truck to tank cars.