FORNEY, Texas — Closures are expected at the four downtown Forney railroad crossings for the next four weeks, according to city officials.
FORNEY, Texas — Closures are expected at the four downtown Forney railroad crossings for the next four weeks, according to city officials.
This morning, the South Bois D’Arc Street railroad crossing in downtown Forney was closed and is expected to remain closed for two weeks, according to City of Forney Public Works Director Chris Metz.
The Center Street crossing is also closed and expected to remain closed for two weeks. The Elm Street and South Chestnut Street crossings will remain open while South Bois D’Arc and Center Street are under construction.
The crossings have been closed due to ongoing construction on the railroad crossing quiet zone project.
Once the South Bois D’Arc Street and Center Street crossings are complete, crews will begin work on the South Chestnut and Elm Street crossings which will also expected to be closed for two weeks.
The quiet zone — an area in which trains cannot sound their warning horn unless of an emergency— will extended between South Bois D’ Arc Street and Farm-to-Market (FM) 548.
The downtown crossings in the proposed quiet zone will need to be constructed to quiet zone standards as set by the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) and below a Nationwide Significant Risk Threshold.
The Farm-to-Market (FM) 548 crossing will not be impacted as it meets current quiet zone requirements. South Bois D’ Arc, Elm Street, North Center Street, and Chestnut Street will undergo improvements to meet the minimum requirements which will include the construction of medians at each crossing to separate opposing traffic.
After nearly a decade of discussing the project, the Forney City Council approved the railroad crossing construction contract in November 2015. The entire project was expected to be complete in early 2016.
