Circleville, Ohio, wants a grade separation to deal with at-grade crossing traffic, but doesn’t know where yet

Officials in Circleville, Ohio, seem closer to building a grade separation.

File photo

The town of Circleville, Ohio, is hearing what it would take to add more separations from at-grade railroad crossings.

Officials seem open to build a grade separation over tracks on Court Street, Washington Street, or Crites Road. Adjustments to the roads would be needed. Court Street would need a change to the vertical profile, while an S-curve would need to be constructed on Washington Street to adjust the profile. Crites Road would need to be extended to Kingston Pike from the current intersection with Progress Parkway.

Rail traffic running through Circleville has doubled since 2013, resulting in traffic bottlenecks. At the heart of the issue is money. Circleville has been pursuing funding from a variety of sources to try to get a grade separation built.

Consultant American Structurepoint Inc. is in the beginning stages of the initial study, and a feasibility study will have to be executed. Currently there is no clear winner on which at-grade crossing will be raised.

An initial concern from the city council is the need to demolish houses for a grade separation at Court Street and Washington Street. The new length of Crites Road also could be a problem.

American Structurepoint Inc. said the chosen road would have to be closed for two years during construction.

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