– The Burlington Northern Santa Fe railroad’s old right-of-way may become the alternate route for diverted traffic, away from a perilous crossing where fatal accident occurred.
– The accident occurred in June 2022, when an Amtrak train collided with a truck resulting in four fatalities and almost 150 injuries.
– The proposed solution is an underground bypass to replace the old railroad corridor that intersected with the double-tracked BNSF line.
– The proposition has been reported by Missouri Independent.
Missouri’s Dangerous Railroad Crossing To Be Bypassed
In the aftermath of a tragic crash in June 2022 that led to the deaths of four people and injured almost 150 others, Missouri is considering a change of course for a notorious railroad crossing. The unacceptable accident occurred when a truck collided with an Amtrak train on the Burlington Northern Santa Fe (BNSF) railroad crossing.
A New Route Under Consideration
The proposed solution, as reported by the Missouri Independent, is to shift the traffic onto an old right-of-way under the BNSF railroad. This underground bypass would replace the deadly crossing site, aiming to increase traffic safety and mitigate risks associated with the old railroad corridor.
This corridor, initially graded by the BNSF, crosses over a double-tracked line. The new route under consideration could serve to prevent any future accidents from occurring at this dangerous juncture.
The Breezy Take
As tragic and heartbreaking as the Amtrak accident was, it has cast a spotlight on the urgent need to rectify hazardous railroad crossings. The proposed solution to use an old right-of-way under the notorious rail line is a step in the right direction for Missouri’s safety measures. While this won’t undo the tragedy, it’s a beacon of hope for safer commutes and better management of traffic keeping both road and rail users at heart.
Original article: https://missouriindependent.com/2023/08/09/bypass-under-rail-line-would-replace-crossing-site-of-deadly-missouri-amtrak-crash/