PREBLE COUNTY — Area drivers are reminded the permanent closure of the Oxford-Gettysburg Road railroad crossing goes into effect on Monday, Jan. 8.
The closure is part of a siding expansion project by Norfolk-Southern Railroad which also closed Conley and Daily Roads.
Railroad sidings are stretches of parallel track which allow trains to park while other trains pass along the main line. Norfolk-Southern completed its siding extension upgrade in Campbellstown, on May 30.
The improved siding is part of an overall strategy that began in 2017 to build longer, crossing-free places to accommodate trains to meet on this primarily single-track segment of the NS network. The line between Muncie and Cincinnati, where this project is situated, sees as many as 25 trains per day, according to Norfolk Southern officials. Other enhancements include installation of power turnouts at each end of the extended siding, swapping siding to eliminate two sets of reverse curves, and new track construction.
NS reached an agreement with the Preble County Commissioners to close three crossings (Conley Road, Oxford-Gettysburg Road and Daily Road) in conjunction with the reconfiguration in 2022.
Under the agreement, NS assisted in upgrading Toby Road to serve as an alternate route for north-south traffic. The project will also remove the siding through the Crawfordsville-Campbellstown and Florence-Campbellstown Road crossings.
On Sept. 14, 2022, Preble County Commissioners officially approved a crossing closure and project funding agreement with Norfolk Southern Railway for the three railroad crossing closures. Conley and Daily Roads were permanently closed effective Thursday, Sept. 15, 2022.
Reach Eddie Mowen Jr. at 937-683-4061 and follow on X @emowenjr.
