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Hearing set for North Road crossing

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DARIEN TOWNSHIP — The state office in charge of railroads has scheduled a public hearing about a crossing in western Walworth County.

The future of a rustic bridge could be determined once questions about the crossing are settled.

The town of Darien has been interested in buying and repairing the old, damaged bridge on North Road west of the village of Darien. The bridge crosses an unnamed tributary of Turtle Creek.

It's been closed since fall 2007, town board Chairman Cecil Logterman said.

A set of railroad tracks crosses North Road just a few yards north of the bridge.

In June, the Wisconsin & Southern Railroad petitioned to permanently close the railroad crossing for safety reasons. The town opposes the closure.

The Walworth County Public Works Committee also recently approved a resolution opposing the closure. The full county board is expected to vote on the resolution on Tuesday, Aug. 11.

The Wisconsin River Rail Transit Commission owns the bridge, said Amy Seeboth, the commission's administrator.

But it's not clear who is responsible for maintaining the bridge.

Logterman said the railroad is responsible for bridge maintenance because the bridge is in railroad right of way.

But a railroad spokesman said that might not be the case. Because the railroad doesn't use the bridge, it has no reason or ability to inspect it, said Ken Lucht, community development manager for Wisconsin & Southern.

Train frequency has increased 18 percent in two years, Lucht said. He predicts the frequency will increase by another 25 percent over the next five years.

Twice a day, trains run over North Road between Janesville and Chicago. In addition, local delivery trains use the section of rail as a staging area as they get ready to switch onto a spur to Darien, Delavan or Elkhorn, Lucht said.

If the crossing was permanently closed and the railroad didn't have to worry about cars passing through, it would be better for railroad operations, Lucht said.

Logterman, on the other hand, said North Road is a major artery for residents of the unincorporated community of Allens Grove, Logterman said.

Residents of Darien and Clinton—and the townships in between—use North Road as an alternative to Interstate 43, Highway 14 or County X, Logterman said.

The two sides must present their arguments to the Office of the Commissioner of Railroads by Oct. 1, according to a news release from the commissioner's office.

The hearing is intended to address three questions, according to the news release:

-- Would closing the railroad crossing be safe and convenient for the public?

-- If the crossing stayed open, what warning devices would be necessary for public safety?

-- Who should pay for the costs of the proposed closure?

After the public hearing, the hearing examiner will make a proposal to the railroad commissioner, who will make the final decision on the matter.