Highway 25 will be closed to motorists for two days next week so
crews can repair the jolting railroad crossing just north of the
San Benito County line.
Hollister – Highway 25 will be closed to motorists for two days next week so crews can repair the jolting railroad crossing just north of the San Benito County line.
Union Pacific will be repairing the crossing on Saturday, April 16 and Sunday, April 17 from 7am to 4pm, according to the California Highway Patrol. Anyone traveling from San Benito County northbound will be diverted to Bolsa Road, then back to Highway 101, according to a CHP-issued statement. All southbound traffic will be diverted to Monterey Road, over to Bolsa Road then back to Highway 25, according to the statement.
Union Pacific received a mandate from the California Public Utilities Commission to fix the tracks by mid-May after a host of motorist complaints, according to UP Spokesman John Bromley.
“It’s a full road closure so that means we’ll have to work quickly to get it done. It will be our crews working on the repairs and it will be difficult because of the condition of the road,” Bromley said. “We should be able to do it in two days, we sure hope so.”
Construction crews will replace the deteriorating concrete between the tracks, which have shifted drastically as vehicles traverse the crossing, according to Bromley.
After receiving complaints from residents about the troublesome track, an inspector from the Public Utilities Commission examined the crossing in February and noted that the concrete panels for both tracks are in need of repair, according to the letter the PUC sent to Union Pacific. Bromley estimated that Union Pacific will have to shell out at least $20,000 to make the repairs.
“It will be relatively expensive because we have to close the entire road and we have to work fast to get it done in time for the commute on Monday morning,” Bromley said. “Basically, (this is being done) because of the condition of the road, which we all agree was very rough and damaged.”
PUC inspector Kevin Boles reported that the concrete within the panels of the tracks is cracked and disjointed, and motorists slow down and often drive onto the shoulder to avoid crossing them, according to the letter. Because the crossing is on a state highway with a speed limit of 55 mph, motorists slowing down and driving to the side of the road to cross the tracks increases the risk of accidents, Boles said in the letter.
PUC spokeswoman Terrie Prosper said the crossing was inspected two years ago and the concrete panels were in good condition at that time. However, concrete panels are supposed to last 20 years and after inspecting them again it was determined a total repair of the line needed to take place, she said.
Residents’ complaints didn’t just stop at the tracks being an inconvenience. One Hollister woman said the extreme jostling of the tracks broke the flywheel of her car and cost her $600 in repairs.
Although the CHP issued a statement concerning the road closure, officers will not be monitoring the repairs, said Officer Matt Ramirez.
“But it affects the highway so it’s a good idea to let people know,” he said. “We field a lot of complaints to UP in regards to the railroad. It’s bad out there, still.”
Erin Musgrave covers public safety for the Free Lance. Reach her at 637-5566, ext. 336 or
em*******@fr***********.com
