FORT SILL, Okla.-- A series of railroad crossing repair projects along Macomb Road are scheduled to begin in early March. Macomb Road will remain open during the repairs, though some streets at south intersections of Macomb will be blocked.
Detours will be clearly marked, and post engineers ask motorists to be patient during the improvement projects. Each project will last about 21 days; and the construction should not affect morning physical training.
The repairs are to replace aging rubber crossings with concrete crossings on the railroad tracks that lie just south of Macomb Road, said Leo Horn, Directorate of Public Works civil engineer.
The work will be performed by a subcontractor of The Ross Group of Oklahoma City, said Jeff Bussey, Fort Sill Army Corps of Engineers contract construction manager. The contractor only does railroad repair work and is very proficient. At press time, specific start dates were tentative and awaiting command approval.
The first site involves the two tracks at Currie and Barbour roads near the Directorate of Public Works building.
The next project will be at Craig and Macomb roads, just south of the Main Post Exchange.
The third improvement will be on the tracks near the pedestrian crossing at Powers Hall, Building 813, the Fleet Management Track Shop, off McNair and Macomb roads.
After that, work will begin at Geronimo and Macomb roads near Summerall Hall, Building 840.
During the December exodus, the tracks at Fort Sill Boulevard and Macomb Road will be repaired.
"The command wanted to do it then to minimize traffic problems at the busy intersection," Bussey said.
On the training side of post, construction of the low water crossing bridge next to Hoyle Bridge is on schedule and it should open in late March, Horn said. The new bridge is designed to handle military traffic and will have a posted weight limit of about 150 tons.
Once the new bridge opens, work will begin on Howitzer Trail road. After Howitzer Trail is completed, work will then start at Peach Tree Crossing.
Howitzer Trail at Randolph Road will be resurfaced and extended beyond I-44, Horn said. The new extension will allow motorists who are heading east to go straight to access Berry Street. They still will be able to make the hard left turn (north) under the overpass.
Howitzer Trail construction will take about 282 days, which is significantly shorter than the 350 days originally planned by road crews, Bussey said. During construction, motorists needing to get to the east side of the post will have to use Sheridan Road and the Key Gate East entrance.
In 2013, far out on the East Range, improvements will be made at the Peach Tree Crossing tracks near Elgin Road. Construction should last about 40 days.
For more information about the railroad improvements, call Bussey at 581-4112.
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