Charlie Bellmann understands the railroads.

His father, a former railroad conductor in Mobile, Ala., knew the ins and outs of the business. So when Mr. Bellmann complains about the teeth-rattling bumps he said he gets driving over the CSX rail line at both River Watch Parkway and Alexander Drive, he does so with a knowledge that dates back a generation.

That might not be the case for everyone who bounces their way over the train tracks, but it doesn't make it any easier.

"The road is not flush with the rail," said Mr. Bellmann, who lives off Furys Ferry Road and deals with the tracks daily. "Driving over it, particularly on something like River Watch, it looks like they would do a better job to me."

Since The Augusta Chronicle began its FIX IT feature in 2005, complaints about the railroad crossing on River Watch Parkway near Superior Road and the Martin Marietta Aggregates quarry have easily been the most common.

In two Chronicle articles about the crossing, CSX officials have said they would look into the problem. But the problem remains for the estimated 40,000 drivers who drive over the tracks daily.

Last month Gary Sease, a spokesman for CSX, said engineering officials were looking into the problem spot, but the company has not responded to queries about any possible action.

There's a similar problem in south Richmond County for drivers who cross a railroad line between McCombs and River roads.

The crossing is near the Burke County line and few motorists slow down to go over the tracks, according to Debra Goldman, who works in Burke County and crosses them daily.

Ms. Goldman said the rough crossing with few warnings for drivers to slow down has made it dangerous.

Just last week, a driver tried to pass a tractor-trailer as it slowed for the crossing and rammed into the back of another car, according to Richmond County sheriff's Maj. Richard Weaver.

It's something Ms. Goldman said she has seen before.

"Someone has to slow down to go across those tracks and the person behind them has to throw on the brakes, because if you don't travel it a lot, you don't know," Ms. Goldman said.

Officials from Norfolk Southern, which maintains the tracks, said there are plans to improve the crossing.

Susan Terpay, a spokeswoman for the company, said they are awaiting approval from the Georgia Department of Transportation for an agreement to install a new crossing at the site. The current crossing is made of wood timber and asphalt, but the new one would be solid concrete slabs that are bolted directly to the track, Ms. Terpay wrote in an e-mail.

A DOT spokeswoman said the two parties are still sorting out the contract, and a timeline for the project hasn't been decided.

Reach Adam Folk at (706) 823-3339 or adam.folk@augustachronicle.com.