Quincy road to be blocked by train

QUINCY — Three Quincy streets are going to be blocked between 15 minutes to an hour Tuesday through Saturday starting in late March.

The Quincy City Council approved a ordinance allowing a Burlington Northern Santa Fe train to block 3rd Street and Road O Northwest for 15 minutes and Columbia Way for 45 minutes as goods are loaded onto refrigerated train cars. The closures are planned for between 2 p.m. and 2:45 p.m.

The city’s ordinance only allowed trains to block the road for five minutes.

Quincy Port Commissioner Patric Connelly said Railroad Logistics is loading a minimum of six refrigerated containers, it built, on a train heading to Chicago.

“They will slowdown, go through town and stop clearing everything, but Columbia Way. They’ll break the first 1,000 feet off of the train, back into our siting,” he said. “They anticipate it will take 20 to 40 minutes.”

Connelly said they couldn’t figure out another way to add the containers without blocking the road.

“They tried to work out breaking the train in half, but it’s just too far for their engine people to get back and check,” he said.

Hemberry said the city already spoke with other agencies about the road closures, adding the city plans to post some signs with the information.

“So they’re all aware that this is going to be happening,” he said. “As long as it’s the same time every day, everybody can plan for it.”

Councilmember Jose Saldana said because of its location the closure won’t affect a lot of people.

“You’d be surprised how many people from the neighborhood go down (Road 10.5) instead of going straight,” he said.