Jim Fair
Motorists are warned of Thursday's closing at South Main Street/Hwy. 14.
Jim Fair
CSX will close this railroad crossing Thursday morning at South Highway 14 until the weekend for repairs.
Jim Fair
Line Street at City Hall remains closed for CSX repairs.
CSX is closing the railroad crossing at the South Main Street/S. Hwy. 14 bridge at Pennsylvania Avenue. Detour signs will be posted this evening directing northbound and southbound traffic around the street closings.
A warning signal at the top of the S. Hwy. 14 bridge has cautioned drivers the past two days to prepare to detour beginning Thursday.
“The South Main Street crossing is scheduled to close (Thursday) following the opening of Pennsylvania Ave. South Main Street is expected to re-open Saturday,” said Kristin Seay, spokeswoman for CSX. “Typically, it takes three to four days to rebuild, repave and re-open a crossing depending on weather conditions.”
Line Street at City Hall has been closed to traffic since Tuesday for repairs. City officials have warned off through traffic from its parking lot.
Southern Commercial Development has been posting signage for traffic control during the CSX repair work.
“As part of our network-wide crossing maintenance program, CSX crews are rebuilding railroad crossings through Greer this week,” Seay said. “This work includes tearing out old crossties, installing new ties and repaving the crossings with asphalt to provide a smoother ride over the crossings for drivers.
“Maintaining railroad infrastructure is critical to preventing accidents and injuries and minimizing service disruptions,” Seay said. “CSX spends more than $1 billion annually on improving and maintaining track, bridges, signals and other equipment to keep freight moving safely and reliably through the communities we serve.”
City officials were vague at Tuesday’s council meeting when trying to explain to City Council CSX’s work schedule and what the railroad was doing.
“CSX came into Greer with the intent of closing all its crossings,” City Administrator Ed Driggers told City Council Tuesday night. “With the help of our departments we worked together so that wouldn’t happen.
“Our roads cross their tracks and they were here first,” Driggers said with a laugh.
Seay commended the Greer officials and community with the inconvenience. “We appreciate the cooperation of local officials in scheduling these closures and appreciate the community’s patience as we work as safely and swiftly as possible to complete this important work,” she said.