Local commuters will be hitting the brakes next week, when the Union Pacific Railroad crossing of Highway 25 is closed for repairs.
The crossing will be closed 7 a.m. Monday to 6 p.m. Friday, and traffic will be detoured, said Officer Chris Armstrong of the Hollister-Gilroy California Highway Patrol. With some drivers likely to choose alternate routes such as Highways 152 and 156, traffic will likely be affected throughout the region.
“It will be a bad week,” Armstrong said. “If you think about all of those locations, they have backups already during commute hours.”
But Union Pacific spokesman James Barnes said the repairs are necessary. The rickety railroad crossing is a frequent complaint among local motorists, and Union Pacific tried to fix it just a few months ago. Barnes said the company is now taking more time to make permanent improvements and will pay an estimated $300,000 for two “really top-of-the-line” grade crossings.
“We recognize the inconvenience, but we’re confident that once the work is complete, it will improve safety at the crossing,” Barnes said.
The closure will likely affect many locals, particularly because nearly half of San Benito County’s population works outside the county, according to the U.S. Census.
Hollister resident Bob Gollobich agreed that repairing the crossing is a long-needed improvement. But he and his wife were alarmed when they heard the closure will last for five days.
“We don’t commute, fortunately, but we’re just concerned about the people who do,” Gollobich said.
On a recent afternoon during a drive home from Salinas, he realized how bad local traffic has become.
“Oh, the traffic was terrible,” he said. “It took us half an hour to get from San Juan Bautista to Union Road.”
By closing the crossing for the full week, rather than just at night, Union Pacific will be able to finish the repairs “as quickly and efficiently as possible,” Barnes said, because the company won’t have to move its work crews in and out.
“Part of that, too, is that we can’t speed up some of the work,” Barnes added. “For example, asphalt needs a certain amount of time to dry. It’s almost like baking a pie.”
To avoid frustration, motorists should carpool, avoid driving when possible and give themselves extra time, Armstrong said. They should also take alternate routes, he said, although he’s hoping they don’t all head for the same highway.
“Each individual will have to figure out which route will be best for them,” Armstrong said. “I wouldn’t suggest one in particular.”
