From staff reports
L’Observateur

GARYVILLE — Kansas City Southern Railroad is begining improvements today to railroad crossings throughout St. John the Baptist Parish.

The maintenance work is expected to last through February, weather permitting.

Improvements are starting today with the Louisiana 54 crossing in Garyville, the crossing closest to Airline Highway. The crossing will be closed to through traffic from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. while repairs are made.

The Central Avenue Railroad crossing in Reserve, the crossing closest to Airline Highway, will be closed to through traffic on Tuesday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Improvements include removing the old railroad tracks and placing new tracks and new asphalt.

Motorists will be detoured to Louisiana 637 (West 10th Street) for both closures.

All fire departments and emergency personnel have been advised of the railroad work, and each has developed alternate routes for emergency response.

More information will be released for the following KCS Railroad Crossing improvements in the upcoming weeks:

• Louisiana 3179 (East 22nd Street)

• Louisiana 3223 (Elm Street)

• Louisiana 3224 (Hemlock Street)

• Louisiana 44 (Main Street)

• Louisiana 636 (McReine Road)

• Louisiana 3217 (Bayou Steel Road)