“All of this is certainly important to having informed motorists and safe commutes, but more critically it is imperative that emergency responders, fire and life squad, are made aware of closings so that they can take the quickest alternate route,” Wilkens said.
“When minutes and seconds count, they can’t afford to drive up to a surprise road closing.”
He wrote a letter to CSX President and CEO Michael J. Ward, saying he “will take measures as provided by the full extent of the law which may include citation or arrest.”
CSX spokeswoman Carla Groleau released this statement via e-mail: “CSX holds public safety in the highest regard. We work very hard to be good citizens in the communities in which we operate. We take these matters very seriously and pledge a quick and thorough response.”
Fred Stitsinger, Hanover Twp. trustee and assistant fire chief, said the dead-end roads were blocked by equipment. Though no one there required medical assistance during the closures, “our concern is if they did, could we have gotten to them?” he said.
This is the first time Stitsinger, who is also a county engineer’s office administrative deputy, can remember dead- end roads have been blocked. He also alleges CSX crews illegally dumped gravel in the middle of Morman and Decamp roads with no warning or safety signals.
The township received “a very short and non-specific response from the railroad, it looked like a cookie-cutter response,” said Stitsinger.
The 12 crossings have since reopened. The work was to repair asphalt and raise some of the track, Wilkens said.
About the Author