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City begins to reconstruct crossings

Reconstruction of Decatur’s two troublesome railroad crossings recently began, first with work at College Avenue/North McDonough Street near Decatur High School. This will be closely followed by similar work a quarter-mile east at the College/Candler Street crossing.

Both crossings will get new concrete panels for automobiles and pedestrians with significantly improved accessibility and safety for pedestrians and cyclists. Currently they share the roadway with vehicles at these crossings.

The work also includes building gentler slopes on the north side of each crossing, making them easier to navigate for strollers and wheelchairs. Both intersections get new traffic signals on either side of the tracks allowing for protected left turns at all intersections.

Meantime, the rebuilding of North McDonough between Trinity Place and College continues. Eventually this stretch will feature two lanes of automobile traffic, a two-way bicycle parkway on the west side, wider sidewalks, street furniture and streetlights on both sides. It also includes green infrastructure filtering silt and pollution from surface runoff water.

Deputy City Manager Hugh Saxon said the total package — the railroad crossings and North McDonough — should finish in six to seven months.