A railroad company is making minor repairs on its Farm Lane crossing this week, but a much larger upgrade is in the works.
After its annual inspection, CSX Group LLC, noticed a rail defect in the Farm Lane crossing that could escalate quickly if not fixed. To repair the defect, a piece of equipment, called a tamper, is required to lift up the track so crews can repair beneath it, said CSX roadmaster Tom Bowen.
Farm Lane is closed between Mount Hope and Service roads until late tonight, when the blacktop is expected to harden.
At the same time, an $18 million initiative introduced by U.S. Rep. Mike Rogers, R-Brighton, to build two underpasses in the area has been slow moving forward.
Rogers lobbied for federal funding for a project in March 2003 to alleviate safety and traffic problems at the Farm Lane railroad crossing. The project is part of MSU's 2020 Vision plan, which is intended to increase campus green space and renovate facilities during the next 16 years.
"Congressman Rogers will still continue to request that it is included, and continue to pursue the funding for MSU for the project as long as it takes," Rogers' spokeswoman Sylvia Warner said Tuesday.
The latest repairs were slated for the summer months, but the equipment for this most recent fix wasn't available until this week.
"I do know how busy that road is (and) if there was any way possible to fix it before school, I would be tickled to death," Bowen said.
Before the construction, the defect caused trains to slow down at the Farm Lane crossing. When construction is complete, they will be able to go through at the regular speed of 50 mph, Bowen said.
Train traffic will continue through construction, although they are slowing down to 25 mph as they pass through the construction area, said Larry Kyser, CSX welder helper on the site.
Pedestrians walk right through the construction site as they cross the tracks, but Kyser said the site is safe.
"We have to stay seven feet away from the rail when a train is passing," Kyser said, adding that students should be careful as they walk through the site, especially because one of the machines hurdles stones.
Some confused motorists were turned away this week as they tried to get to Lot 89, the commuter lot, on south Farm Lane.
"I'm sure it's necessary," said Larry Leszczynski, a turf management graduate student who commutes to campus and was late to class and work Tuesday because of the detours. "They're making sure the trains are safe, so we can make do."
Rogers' initiative is intended to cure some of the dangers of the crossing.
Students can still walk or carry their bikes across the track to reach the opposite side. Capital Area Transportation Authority buses will follow detours around the construction.
Heidi Benson, a mathematics senior, and Manuela Dalke, a no-preference sophomore, were rushing Tuesday to get to class from the commuter lot.
"It's terrible," Dalke said. "I'm late because I was waiting for the bus."
Benson was waiting, too, and gave up and began walking.
"Waiting 20 minutes for the bus and then adding on 20 to walk instead - it makes it difficult to plan your schedule," she said.
A national trend of increased freight traffic is contributing to the need for repairs, said Tom White, spokesperson for the Association of American Railroads or AAR.
"It has steadily increased over the years. This year, there has been a strong increase, probably up five percent ahead of last year," White said. "It will probably establish a record as the heaviest year in history as far as freight-train volume. If trains are carrying more, using the track more, as well (as) using longer and heavier trains, it will increase the need to maintain the tracks properly."
Meg Scheu, CSX spokeswoman, said the freight company, part of AAR, has seen an increase in traffic.
"There has definitely been an increased demand for transport," Scheu said. "Part of what's driving that is the increase in exports such as coal or steel."
The detour for motorists going south on Farm Lane to the commuter lot is: Farm Lane to Wilson Road to Harrison Avenue to Mt. Hope Road to Farm Lane to the commuter lot.
