Galesburg Aldermen discussed closing the Mulberry St. railroad crossing on Monday in exchange for BNSF doing work on the South Street grade separation.
BNSF wants to close Mulberry to have more space to safely attach trains without stopping traffic.
Since Mulberry is the only option for semi-trucks when the Sibley Underpass is closed, BNSF would lower the road on the South St. Underpass, increasing it’s clearance so trucks could travel under it.
Director of Public Works Wayne Carl presented this proposal to the council and says he sees safety as a benefit, but it also could create some inconvenience for motorists.
But Carl says the nearby Discovery Depot staff is on board.
“They actually would be in favor of the closure. They think it would be beneficial to their pedestrian traffic and the traffic flow in general around their facility if the crossing was closed,” Carl says.
Part of BNSF’s proposal includes constructing a pedestrian overpass at where the Mulberry crossing is, along with a fence to prevent pedestrians from crossing the corridor.
