All aboard not the case with SR 347 work

What once looked like it might be picking up some steam in Maricopa has stalled on the tracks.

Union Pacific Railroad has been negotiating with the Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT) and the City of Maricopa to shut down part or all of SR 347 in the next week to do necessary repairs on the railroad tracks south of the Maricopa/Casa Grande Highway.

That plan, however, has been tabled for now.

“At this time we do not have a clear answer as to why the construction was postponed,” City of Maricopa Public Affairs Manager Jennifer Grentz said. “The city will continue to work with ADOT and Union Pacific in regards to this project as it is important to meet the needs of the railroad, ADOT and the Maricopa community.”

James Barnes, director of media information for Union Pacific Railroad, told inmaricopa.com on Friday that ADOT, as the controlling road authority for SR 347, decided to delay UP’s planned crossing improvement project.

ADOT Transportation Spokesperson Teresa Welborn, however, said the department had not yet received the required paperwork from Union Pacific Railroad before a permit for the work to begin could be issued. Welborn reiterated that ADOT’s preference is that Union Pacific Railroad, if it receives the permit for the construction, only close half the road at a time when working, not the entire road.

“Union Pacific will perform the crossing improvement work at the same time as the railroad’s planned installation of a second mainline track through the crossing,” Barnes said. “The addition of the second track through this crossing is part of UP’s Arizona double track project.”

Barnes said, in recent days, Union Pacific Railroad had notified the Arizona Corporation Commission (ACC) of ADOT’s desire for the two crossing projects to occur simultaneously. “UP plans to file an application with the ACC to double-track the crossing at SR 347 in the next month or two,” Barnes said. “Hopefully, the commission will take the rough crossing work into consideration and expedite approval of the double track application at this crossing.”

The original work plan calls for installing 160 feet worth of new track panels and 100 feet of concrete road crossing surface. Union Pacific Railroad also plans to upgrade the two foot approach to the crossing.

According to Barnes, the new crossing will offer a safer ride for motorists driving over the grade crossing as well as helping to enhance train operations in the area.

Union Pacific Railroad links nearly two dozen states in the western two-thirds of the country and provides service to the fastest-growing U.S. population centers.

Photo by Dave Thomas