Railroad attempting to close SR 347

Union Pacific Railroad is negotiating to shut down part or all of SR 347 within the next few weeks to do necessary repairs on the railroad tracks south of the Maricopa/Casa Grande Highway.

The exact timing and how much of the road will be closed has yet to be determined, although the parties involved expect it to be as soon as the second week in July.

Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT) Spokesperson Teresa Welborn told inmaricopa.com the department was in discussions with Union Pacific Railroad on the issue. “We have not yet issued a permit for the work,” Welborn said. “We are working with Union Pacific and the city on this issue. Our preference is that they close only half the road at a time when doing the work, not the entire road.”

City of Maricopa Public Affairs Manager Jennifer Grentz said Friday afternoon that all the details had not been worked out. Grentz noted ADOT did not sign off on the work that Union Pacific Railroad wants to do next month. Grentz said an alternate route plan was being developed for drivers in the event the work is approved.

James Barnes, director of media information for Union Pacific Railroad, reiterated that discussions are ongoing. “When an agreement is reached, we will initiate planning of the work,” Barnes said. “Although we have a tentative schedule that we are discussing with the state, we will not proceed until there is agreement among all appropriate parties.”

Barnes said Union Pacific recognizes that road closures can be an inconvenience but it is a short-term inconvenience for longer-term safety and convenience.

“Basically, due to the fact that Maricopa is growing so rapidly and traffic flow across the four lanes has quadrupled over the crossing at SR 347, we are installing 160 feet worth of new track panels, and 100 feet of concrete road crossing surface,” Barnes said.

Barnes added that Union Pacific Railroad will be upgrading the 2-feet approach to the crossing. “The new crossing will provide a safer ride for motorists driving over the grade-crossing as well as helping to enhance train operations in the area,” Barnes said.

Pinal County Sheriff’s Deputy Lt. Scott Elliott said his office was advised by the city of the impending closure just this week.

“Obviously the closure will affect everyone,” Elliott said. “Our plan during this closure will be to have officers patrolling both south and north of the tracks. Having an officer primarily on both sides of the tracks will limit the effect the closure will have on our response times.”

Maricopa Deputy Chief of Police Kirk Fitch said his department has been working with the fire department to ensure coverage for the city both north and south of the tracks. “Our officers will be on patrol on both sides of the tracks to ensure police coverage,” Fitch said. Maricopa begins daytime patrols in the city on July 1.

Photo by Scott Bartle