Railroad crossing signal coming

Published 1:02 am Wednesday, August 26, 2009

By By Kerry Whipple Bean
publisher

A railroad signal and crossing gate will be erected at the Deer Street and U.S. 31 intersection, according to an agreement approved Tuesday by the Brewton City Council.
City officials have been working with the Alabama Department of Transportation for several years to get a signal at that site — but the project was ramped up again last spring when a log truck trying to beat a train across the tracks was hit by the train, sending logs through the windows at First Exchange Bank.
The city also consulted T.R. Miller Mill officials, who expressed concern about the safety at the intersection, Jennings said.
The plan does not call for making any streets one-way, Jennings said.
In addition to the railroad crossing agreement, the council also approved an agreement with ALDOT on changes to the proposed turn lanes at U.S. 31 and Old Castleberry Road, near the site of the new middle school.
The new agreement increases ALDOT’s contribution to the project from $370,000 to $400,000, Jennings said.
In other business Tuesday: