A pair of bumpy railroad crossings in the Security-Widefield area are scheduled to be repaired in March 2019. The El Paso County Department of Public Works is collaborating with BNSF Railway to fix the crossings in the Security-Widefield area in response to citizen requests.
The tracks as well as the ties and surrounding pavement have worn out from years of heavy use, causing slowdowns at Main Street and Fontaine Boulevard just east of Colorado Highway 85/87 and south of Academy. The work will mend the tracks that have sunk and shifted because of Colorado weather and heavy vehicle traffic. According to BNSF, these crossings are by far the busiest in southern Colorado.
The project, which is funded with money from the Pikes Peak Rural Transportation Authority (PPRTA) and BNSF, will begin with work at the Fontaine Boulevard crossing March 4 through March 7. Then work is expected to shift to Main Street from March 11 to March 14.
Each road will be closed when BNSF and County crews perform the repairs at each site. Drivers will be rerouted to multiple detours. When Fontaine is closed, drivers will be directed to Main Street, Academy Boulevard to the north and Mesa Ridge Parkway to the south. During the closure on Main, vehicles can use detours on Fontaine, Academy Boulevard or Mesa Ridge Parkway.
BNSF will tear out the asphalt and concrete surrounding the tracks, remove and replace the track and railroad ties and install the crossing back to its original elevation. El Paso County Road and Bridge crews will take over after BNSF finishes its work. The County crews will repave the road, install sidewalk, curbs and gutter, and mark and stripe the pavement. The County will also perform traffic control during the entire project.
Colorado is prone to unpredictable weather during the winter and spring months. El Paso County and BNSF will monitor weather leading up to the project dates. If inclement weather impedes the project, the work would be rescheduled for May.
El Paso County would like to thank those who brought the bumpy railroad crossings to the attention of the Department of Public Works.
Anyone who notices issues on County roads or in El Paso County Parks can use Citizen Connect to submit a service request and track its progress. Citizen Connect can be accessed by going to https://citizenconnect.elpasoco.com/#/homepage or by downloading the Citizen Connect app from the Apple App Store or Google Play.