CHESAPEAKE, Va. (WAVY) — Relief could one day be coming for drivers who often find themselves stuck on either side of the largest railroad crossing in Hampton Roads.
Late last month, Chesapeake City Council voted to start the process to eventually build an overpass, to take vehicles over the eight tracks that Portlock Road currently crosses over at grade level in South Norfolk.
Aside from being an all around safer option, the Portlock Road crossing has been reported to the Federal Railroad Administration, more than any other crossing in the city, for being blocked with stationary trains for an extended period of time.
There have been 67 reports since this time last year.
Brad Moore, president of the South Norfolk Civic League, said that has lead to delays for residents, businesses and commuters.
“It’s a regular topic with us, the trains,” Moore said. “It’s dangerous. There’s really no other way around it.”
Portlock Road connects Bainbridge Boulevard to Campostella Road in South Norfolk. — two major thoroughfares in Chesapeake’s more urban and industrial corridor.
The reason for the eight-tracks is that the crossing happens to be at the southernmost end of Norfolk Southern’s Portlock Yard. This is a massive piece of property more than a mile long, where trains are sorted, made up and switched.
The next crossing of the tracks North of Portlock Road is roughly two miles away.
When a train isn’t moving, and there is no indication on when it may move again, this is where people lose their patience, Moore said.
“While we welcome commerce in our neighborhood, as of late, over the last few years the trains have been getting longer and the stops have been getting even longer,” Moore said.
It’s illegal for trains in Virginia to block an intersection at a dead stop for more than five minutes for non-emergency reasons. Yet, trains often do stop for periods of time to perform switching operations and to change crews.
Efforts to enforce the law haven’t proved successful. In 2017, the State Corporation Commission imposed a $18,600 fine on CSX Transportation for blocking crossings. However CSX appealed, saying state law is overruled by the authority of the FRA.
The FRA said they would dispatch an inspector to a crossing that has received three complaints of blockage on three separate calendar days within a 30-day window on their Blocked Crossing Incident Reporter.
If operational changes don’t work, there is the Railroad Crossing Elimination Grant Program.
Planning efforts for the Portlock overpass will start this year with nearly $1.3 million, mostly coming from Federal Railway Administration, according to the city. An overpass is proposed for Freeman Avenue.
While no timeline is being published right now, Moore said it’s good news nonetheless.
“It’ll improve access to the neighborhood, the neighborhood looks better when there is brand new roadways,” Moore said. “It’s definitely a welcome project.”
For those wondering, the most reported blocked railroad crossing in the region is one crossing Granby Street in Norfolk.
