WAXHAW, N.C. — A railroad crossing in downtown Waxhaw will be closed for several days due to maintenance work, CSX announced Tuesday.
The crossing at North Carolina 16 and Broome Street in Waxhaw will be shut down for four days while crews perform essential maintenance, the company announced. The closure is scheduled to start on October 30 and could last as long as eight days.
Waxhaw's Mayor Ron Pappas said it's the town leaders' goal to keep traveling on their roadways safe and smooth.
"We want to make sure that the 20,000-plus cars a day that go through this intersection can get around our town to allow our people to get into our town," he said.
CSX said detour signage will be prominently posted along North Carolina 16 to help drivers get around the closure while the repairs are being made. Heavy traffic is expected due to the disruption. Drivers should plan accordingly and allow extra time if they must drive through downtown Waxhaw next week. The town posted a detour map online as well.
Pappas says town leaders are working with railroad operator CSX and the North Carolina Department of Transportation on a plan to keep traveling on Waxhaw’s roads a smooth experience.
"We all collaborated and got together, developed a different plan that helped us circulate the traffic through town with very little disruption.”
The detours encourage drivers to take Gray Byrum Road, Waxhaw-Marvin Road, Waxhaw Indian Trail Road, Collins Road, and McNeely Road. Pappas says sending out the traffic warning is part of a bigger plan to connect and grow with the Waxhaw community.
“We want to make sure that our residents know the process, which sometimes they don't like that word process, but everything in government is a process," Pappas said. "And we need to help them understand the process better. You just can't be reactionary. You have to have a plan."
Pappas added, “I love this town. It's a great town. I love being down here. I live within walking distance. I like that. And that's our town is something that everybody else wants to enjoy as well. And we'd like to see them do that.”
Construction is scheduled to start on Monday and will extend through November 7 on election day which could impact voters’ routes to the polls. The town of Waxhaw says it appreciates everyone's patience as CSX works to ensure the safety and efficiency of the railroads. Drivers can view the status of the road closure on the Union County Sheriff's Office app.
Contact Myles Harris at mharris5@wcnc.com and follow him on Facebook, X and Instagram.
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