Temporary Fix At Hillsborough Railroad Crossings Following Complaints

HILLSBOROUGH, NJ — Criticism and complaints have prompted Norfolk Southern to install temporary patches at all four railroad crossings.

Hillsborough Mayor John Ciccarelli shared an update on Norfolk Southern's railroad replacement project on Tuesday.

"Norfolk Southern has placed a temporary patch at the trenches they made," said Ciccarelli. "They’ve done this at all four crossings as a way to make the drive safer as we wait for them to complete their work."

Norfolk Southern began construction to replace the rails at all four of the train crossings in Hillsborough on Sept. 23.

Last week, Ciccarelli had met with Norfolk Southern to express his dissatisfaction with the project, calling it a "mess" due to the large holes left at the crossings.

Ciccarelli said that following the meeting and with the persistence of the Township Engineer, the administrative office, as well as the reactions from the public about the conditions, a temporary fix was made by Norfolk Southern.

"I want to thank everybody for their patience," said Ciccarelli.

Norfolk Southern's R3 dual rail gang will be replacing all the rail on 15 miles of their Lehigh Line later this year as part of regular infrastructure maintenance needed to keep the tracks safe, said Heather Garcia, a spokesperson with Norfolk Southern to Patch.

"Prior to that work happening, our teams unload the new rail adjacent to the track, cutting a narrow trench through the crossing for the rail to sit prior to being installed. Our paving contractor has since come out and rolled asphalt in the trenches to ensure a smoother crossing," said Garcia.

The R3 dual rail gang is the largest production gang in Norfolk Southern’s engineering department. See below to learn more about the rail gang' work:

The team comprises of 70-plus employees plus support from local track teams. They travel the Norfolk Southern's network every year, laying an average of more than 300 track miles (600-plus linear miles) of rail per year.

"We appreciate the community’s patience and understanding during this important maintenance to keep our railroad safely operating and crossings smooth," said Garcia.

Norfolk Southern is expected to complete the project in early November, and "in the meantime, they have made it safer for the traveling public," said Ciccarelli.

• Previous Reporting: 'It's A Mess,' Hillsborough Mayor Says Of Railroad Crossing Project

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