Oak Ridge Crossing will be closed for repairs Monday, Sept. 19 and Tuesday, Sept. 20.
The announcement was made last week by County Manager Jason Rubenbauer and Erika Nickell, assistant manager of CSX Transportation Division’s Southern Commercial Development, LLC.
Rubenbauer said there will be no access into or out of the community while the repairs are underway. Repairs will be made during daylight hours from 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m. both days. The crossing is scheduled to be re-opened at 5 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 20.
Southern Commercial Development, LLC works with CSX Transportation providing traffic control and detour signage for railroad crossing closures which require necessary maintenance and emergency repairs.
Nickell said the Oak Ridge Crossing is to be closed for an emergency repair due to an identified rail defect.
“This is a total closure meaning no traffic will be allowed across the tracks until the work is complete for that day,” said Nickell.
CSX will install rock into the crossing each day at 5 p.m. to make it passable for vehicular traffic during the evening/nighttime hours. The crossing will shut down promptly at 8:30 a.m. and traffic will not be allowed across the tracks until after 5 p.m. each day of the closure period.
Dates and times are subject to change due to weather and/or other unforeseen conditions. Motorists should anticipate extended travel times and delays.
Motorists are asked to please avoid the closure area if at all possible.
Rubenbauer said all residents of the Oak Ridge Community will need to plan accordingly as the CSX access road will be only open for emergency personnel.
There is currently only one way in or out of the area via the railroad crossing on Oak Ridge Trail. Access and exit are already a problem since trains sometime block the crossing waiting to get into Rice Yard in Waycross.
Commissioners have been trying for several years to find an alternative exit for residents.
