Matthew Fogle
Saturday, October 26, 2013

A railroad crossing in Bardstown is projected to get a facelift following the announcement this week of a state grant. Gov.Steve Beshear announced on Wednesday nearly $2.2 million in grants to help fund safety improvements at railroad crossings statewide. The R.J. Corman Railroad Group is carrying out 77 of the projects, and $47,084 of the grant money will go toward an upgrade for the railroad crossing on North Third Street in Bardstown next to the dinner train.

Deborah J. Hawley, real estate and funded projects manager for the RJ Corman Railroad Group, said the project will include a new crossing surface, and “it will more than likely be a new concrete surface.”  She said no timetable has been set up yet for this particular project to begin.

“This type of project usually lasts about four days,” Hawley said. “But we will let the public know when that work will be constructed ahead of time so they can be aware of the detours.”

The grants, all of which require a dollar-for-dollar match from the railroad companies, are funded through the Kentucky Railroad Crossing Improvement Program, which is administered by the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet.  The final cost of the improvement at the crossing on North Third Street is estimated at $94,168.

“There is no way we would be able to do all of these projects without the grant funding,” Hawley said. “This is good news for us and good news for the public.”

The project will be coordinated with the State Transportation Cabinet and the city of Bardstown.

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