Indiana Rail Road slates project to improve safety at 321 crossings

Indiana Rail Road Co. (INRD) maintenance crews will make safety improvements to 321 public and private grade crossings in Indiana and Illinois over the next few months, the railroad announced yesterday.

The project is possible due to matching funds totaling $129,537 from the Federal Railroad Administration, with INRD contributing $126,037 and the remainder provided by grants from Vigo, Greene and Sullivan counties in Indiana, INRD officials said in a press release.

The grant was among $25 million in federal Railroad Safety Infrastructure Improvement awards that the Federal Railroad Administration announced Monday.

INRD's goal is to increase motorists' awareness and sight lines at grade crossings by clearing brush, trees and other vegetation. At the 201 public grade crossings on INRD's rail lines, any crossing with gates and/or flashing lights will have brush removed up to 250 feet from the roadway; all crossings not equipped with flashing lights will have brush removed up to 650 feet from the crossing.

The railroad also will place warning signs at 120 private crossings in Indiana and Illinois. The crossings are located on farms and residential roads.

The full project is expected to be completed in seven months.