I 'd like to report traffic control lights that bother me and curves that bother me, too. My life needs as few complications as possible.
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.
CROSSING THE TRACKS DAILY
Thousands of drivers cross local railroad tracks daily. Here are the 2007 traffic counts for the railroad crossings on and near River Watch Parkway:
| Alexander Drive | 2,500 |
| Claussen Road | 6,000 |
| Stevens Creek Road | 10,000 |
| River Watch Parkway | 40,000 |
To report a rough crossing, call CSX at (904) 359-3200 or Norfolk Southern at (800) 453-2530
Source: Richmond County Traffic Engineering Department
Comments
I 'd like to report traffic control lights that bother me and curves that bother me, too. My life needs as few complications as possible.
When are we going to get CSX to bypass Augusta and turn these reaillines into multipurpose paths and bike lanes like North Augusta?
What do you mean you have to slow down for the railroad crossings? You should slow down. It is a RR crossing for God's sake not a four way stop. Everybody gripes when a train hits a car but the train has the right of way. Slow down and stop look and listen to live.
When Riverwatch Parkway was built, this RR crossing was the smoothest I had ever driven over. Years later it has deteriorated. Perhaps the RR tracks rose up against gravity. More likely, the asphalt/aggregate road has sunk. It would not be hard for Richmond County to take a bit of SPLOST money and smooth out the asphalt. If CSX and Martin Marietta would kick in a few bucks voluntarily we would have a win/win.
Captain Awesome, how exactly are the many facilities that depend on rail lines supposed to operate if CSX bypasses Augusta?? How do you ever expect an area to grow and flourish with out the essentials to do business? It's small minded people like you, worried about bike trails and other nonsense that keep Augusta from being anything. Pack your bike and take it to the canal tow path, or maybe even up around the lake. There are plenty of bike trails available without removing CSX lines that are the backbone of commerce and industry in Augusta.
For anyone that hasn't ever dealt with the railroad there is one thing you must know, THEY DON'T CARE what anyone thinks. The railroads are out for themselves and for most part they are a monopoly. I am pretty sure that the rail lines that cross Riverwatch are CSX property. The only company that can fix them is CSX. The city and MM can ask/pressure, but they can't do anything to fix them. There is a certain point which the lines become the property of MM, but that would be within their property.
CSX AUGUSTA is a joke and has been for years! I am sure anyone that has to deal with them around Augusta would agree! They work on their own time and THEY DON'T CARE what anyone thinks about it!
Maybe Sonny and the boys in Atlanta could help. There should be some sort of provision to allow local governments to assess fees to pay for road repair when a rail company refuses to do so or fails to act within a reasonable time frame.
Speaking in terms of Columbia County, if you get on Google Earth, and check the box for railways, you'll see that the ONLY two stops in the entire country are Quebecor, on Evans to Locks, and Maner Building supply. Why is it even needed? They don't have trucks? Doesn't seem economically feasible to finance the repair for THAT much railway for only two businesses.
While we are talking about poor crossings, lets include Old Evans Road near the Evans Lowes. It is a launching ramp.
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