By Ryan Spoehr
SLN Staff
Railroad work will close parts of Franklin and Tripp streets in Whitewater mid-September so updates along the railroad can be done.
The projects are a part of planned work along the railroad system near Highway 59 between Waukesha and Milton in 2017 and 2018.
“Crossings will be totally rebuilt with new crossings,” said Brent J. Marsh, the project engineer.
New pine and pavement will be installed, which will lead to the closings on the streets.
The portion of Franklin Street will be closed for the updates from Sept. 15 through 21; Tripp Street near the crossing will be closed from Sept. 18 through 22.
Detours around the closed portions of the streets have not yet been determined, said Weston Baros, the project engineer for Railworks Truck Service, which handles signage and determining routes for the railroad work in Whitewater and other communities having similar work.
The surfaces and pavement has suffered from deterioration, leading to the upcoming repairs.
The work is part of a five-year plan to repair the entire railroad near Highway 59 between Waukesha and Milton, including tracks.
“We’ll be slowly working from east to west,” Marsh said. “The work we are doing now will allow us to move a little bit quicker.”
Palmyra will have the same work done to railroad crossings in its community in late September and early October.
From Sept. 25 to 29, the work on the railroad crossings will continue in will close portions of Burr Oak and Fourth streets in the village. From Oct. 2 through 6, work on crossings on Taft, Northwest and Third will close those streets.
