Downtown Johnson City became a maze of dead ends and detours Monday and the work week got off to a steamy start for some motorists visibly irritated with Norfolk Southern Railroad’s track replacement at about a half dozen well-traveled roads.
Johnson City Transit System Director Eldonna Janutolo expressed her frustration near the end of the day after being asked how things had gone with the abrupt disruptions.
“The word I got last week was they were going to do one intersection at a time,” said a none-too-pleased Janutolo. “Our composure, yes, we kept our composure. Our routes? No. We’ve been traveling around in circles, and that’s just a part of it when we have to go through this. I feel sorry for the passengers standing out there waiting for a bus. But we’re dealing with it; we’re doing our best.”
The city’s Community Relations Office told the Johnson City Press they were notified on March 1 that Norfolk Southern would begin replacing the steel rail on their tracks starting Monday. Chris Williams, the company’s assistant division engineer, referred the Press to Susan Terpay, public relations director. Terpay was not immediately available.
Johnson City Traffic Engineer Anthony Todd said the city and the railroad did communicate, saying the railroad “gave us some information.”
“Their operation either goes the way it’s supposed to, or it doesn’t,” he said in what could be defined as the old “grain of salt” tone. “We usually don’t get a lot of advance notice, and we were not given specifics. So when they get ready they just go. I don’t know how to change it, but their operations really are fairly quick. I would love to tell everybody which ones (crossings) are going to be open and which ones are going to be closed.”
Todd said the railroad has only about six hours each day to work. After that, they must have the tracks back in place, because the heavy metal will be rolling in.
Workers on Monday ignited devices that weld what is known as a “signal maintainer” to the outer edge of the track. The maintainers actually are ground wires which activate crossing signals ahead of a train when the engine’s wheels first brush across them.
The railroad is replacing 23 miles of old line from just west of Piney Flats to Limestone, but the focus now is directly on Johnson City.
The new rail is roughed in with a mixture of coal and rock, and that is what passers-by will see once this crew moves it way along State of Franklin Road. This phase should be complete in the downtown area in about one week. Though a specific time is not yet known, another crew will follow behind. This crew will remove the mix and replace it with fresh asphalt.
“It could be a month; it could be two months,” said Jerry Holt, a private contractor who supplies traffic and directional signaling for the railroad. “We only know they are working there way up here behind us.”
truthful writes:
March 5, 2013
6:25 AM
oh my another delay for the ones that are running late for work .Why can`t people work together in this town . I`m sure they is other crossings that can be used if needed i`m sure it will be done in a timely manner. This city is dam if you do and dam if you don`t
justathought writes:
March 5, 2013
8:16 AM
truthful: There are other crossings that can be utilized if needed. Keep in mind that ALL six crossings were closed at the same time...sending commuters driving in circles looking for the nearest open crossing. Obviously, you don't have the need to get out much.
If you'll note the comment in the article stating the fact the city was under the impression that work would be done ONE INTERSECTION at a time. Having all six closed at the same time WAS and IS inconvenient for people who work and have business to conduct in the area...not to mention those not familiar with alternate routes.
Common sense dictates "one intersection at a time" is the way this should have been carried out.
Guess what? We are working together in this town....all looking for the nearest open intersection with a smile.
JS writes:
March 5, 2013
8:17 AM
This is a pretty light-hearted article with few relevant details for something that seems fairly important to the way JC runs each day.
This morning, the tracks at University Pkwy and State of Franklin were shut down, with traffic being diverted by 3 police cruisers, and those driving on University from Market being diverted through Thomas stadium causing huge back ups. I saw 2 ambulances tied up in the ensuing traffic, and another police cruiser tending to an accident on State of Franklin.
So, this confusion can pop up anywhere anytime in the next 1-2 months and the JC city traffic manager has a shrug of the shoulders response? Was city emergency management notified that key intersections in downtown would be randomly closed off? Construction that could cripple key parts of city traffic starts with 1 days notice and the city's response is "I don't know how to change it...I would love to tell which (crossings) are going to be opened."
Fantastic work JC. Fantastic.
Whitey writes:
March 5, 2013
9:55 AM
These railroad crews should do this work in the middle of the night when there's little to no traffic. Is it more convenient to let 10 people on the RR crew sleep at night and do the work in the daytime and inconvenience 5000 motorists instead? The people to complain to, if anybody, is the N&S RR.
bhoiska writes:
March 5, 2013
10:43 AM
One comment states that the Railroad crew should work at night so it's more convenient for the motorists. My husband is on that Railroad crew, it's a very dangerous job!!They deserve the same respect that motorists would give road crews working on the highways. They can't work "at night" due to the dangerous conditions of not being able to see and be seen in the dark!! And there's not "10" railroad workers, try about 85 to 95 men. Also they can't control where they are told to work and when they are told to work!! People should be more considerate the next time they are angry with someone for simply doing their job!!!
plodder writes:
March 5, 2013
11:59 AM
I sure wish they would fix the one at University and St. of Franklin. That one has gotten really rough.
truthful writes:
March 5, 2013
5:45 PM
bhoiska You are right about working in the dark and further more (justathought) I drive this town everyday more miles than you know and i find a way around that`s a little out of the way but i can do it ok so you don`t need to worry about me getting out .
Monty writes:
March 5, 2013
5:42 PM
My biggest concern is for emergency service viehicles getting where they need to be with the least disruption. Seems having six intersections in a row down at the same time is a bit reckless. I don't know what the dialogue has been between the rail companies and the city and emergengy services, etc. None of that was addressed in this article. I've 'heard' that rail companies can be fairly arrogant with the power and autonomy they have. NO first hand knowledge as to whether that is true or if I am furthering an unfair belief. Let's hear from others and have a more complete report from the Press.
provided.