Newton water main repaired, but Main Street railroad crossing to remain closed through Wednesday
BNSF crews are rebuilding the track infrastructure after an early Monday water leak damaged the crossing
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Sign up freeNEWTON, Kan. — A water main break beneath the Main Street railroad crossing has been repaired, but the roadway will remain closed through Wednesday afternoon, Aug. 12, while BNSF Railway crews rebuild the damaged tracks. A railroad employee first reported the leak around 1 a.m. Monday, Aug. 10, prompting the city to close Main Street near East Third Street.
City utility workers successfully replaced about 4 feet of pipe beneath the crossing. Officials said local water service remained undisrupted because the affected section was isolated. A definitive cause for the pipe failure has not yet been determined.
Because of the extent of the track damage, BNSF crews are replacing railroad ties and ballast to restore the proper rail elevation through the crossing. The Newton Street Department is handling additional concrete repairs nearby, after which a railroad contractor will lay asphalt to smooth the transition over the tracks.
Acknowledging that the prolonged closure comes at a difficult time with the start of the local school year, city officials have established a posted detour routing Main Street and K-15 traffic around the work zone via First, High and Broadway streets.
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