Colorado Pacific Railroad Begins Crossing Repairs in Eads

Colorado Pacific Railroad began work Friday on long-awaited repairs to railroad crossings in Eads, starting with the Maine Street crossing.

Drivers should be advised that Maine Street is expected to remain closed through the weekend while crews complete work at the crossing.

The project will address both the Maine Street and Rittgers Street crossings, two locations that have been an on-again, off-again concern for local drivers for years.

For residents who cross the tracks regularly—and travelers passing through Eads—the work should eventually mean a smoother trip without having to dodge the holes and rough spots that have developed around the crossings.

Public Works Director Trent Rittgers told the Eads Board of Trustees during its Sept. 15 meeting that railroad crews planned to begin work on Maine Street Friday and continue through the weekend.

Rittgers Street is expected to remain open until Tuesday, giving traffic another route across the tracks while Maine Street is under construction.

Crews are then expected to begin work at the Rittgers Street crossing Tuesday, with asphalt tentatively scheduled to be placed at both crossings Wednesday.

If the project remains on schedule, Rittgers said Maine Street could reopen around Thursday morning.

The railroad is replacing the old crossing material with concrete panels, creating a new driving surface through the track area.

The tracks through Eads are part of the historic Towner Line, now owned by Colorado Pacific Railroad. The approximately 122-mile short line runs between Towner on Colorado’s eastern edge and N.A. Junction to the west, crossing through Kiowa County and serving agricultural and freight traffic in eastern Colorado.

Railroad crossings such as these involve responsibility on both sides of the tracks.

Under Colorado law, the railroad or owner of the track is responsible for maintenance costs for the portion of an existing public crossing located between the ends of the railroad ties. The local road authority is responsible for the roadway outside the ends of those ties.

That division also reflects federal guidance, which generally places responsibility for the track structure and crossing surface with the railroad while the road agency handles the approaches leading to the crossing.

In Eads, that means the railroad is responsible for the crossing area through the tracks, while the Town is responsible for the approaches connecting the street to the crossing.

For motorists, the practical result is a coordinated project aimed at improving two crossings that have frustrated drivers for years.

The rough surfaces and holes have been a familiar problem for locals and travelers alike.

If the work proceeds as planned, both crossings should have new surfaces by the middle of next week.

For now, motorists should plan around the Maine Street closure throughout the weekend and use Rittgers Street while it remains open.