With two accidents involving trains and vehicles on the Norfolk Southern railroad crossing in Gainesville in the past 45 days, Virginia Department of Transportation officials said it would appropriate to review whether something else needs to be done.
“If there have been two accidents recently, we need to make extra sure that all the signs are in the right place and that there is ample warning for motorists to slow down or stop for the railroad crossing,” VDOT spokeswoman Joan Morris said.
U.S. 29 in Gainesville was closed in both directions for hours Friday after a train struck a truck near U.S. 55. There were no injuries according to police, but the accident stopped traffic on U.S. 29 and those entering and exiting Interstate 66 until nearly 10 p.m.
Police charged the truck driver, Timothy Rollie Bristown, 66, of Atlee Road in Warrenton with failure to obey a highway sign, said Prince William County police spokesman Jonathan Perok.
The train accident is the second on U.S. 29 in little more than a month. On Dec. 9, a train hit a truck in the same place, creating “horrific” traffic tie-ups in the area.
VDOT has had detours in place in that area as part of work on the Gainesville interchange. The project entails constructing two overpasses, one carrying U.S. 29 over the railroad tracks and one carrying Linton Hall Road and Gallerher Road over both U.S. 29 and the railroad tracks.
The entire road project, which also includes widening portions of U.S. 29 to six lanes, is scheduled to be complete in 2015.
Morris, who travels through the intersection often, said there are railroad gates that come down, warning motorists of an oncoming train. Still, with the at-grade crossing in place until the project’s completion, Morris said VDOT needed to look at the signage to “make sure they are as perfect as can be.”
Morris said that installing additional signage likely would be a joint effort with Norfolk Southern railway.
Staff writer Kipp Hanley can be reached at 703-530-3904.
Email
Facebook
Google
Twitter
Favorites
More
Advertisement