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Local News

Trains to cross U.S. 52 again north of Cannon Falls

11/9/2009 9:05:02 AM

Comments (9)

By Laura Horihan
Post-Bulletin, Rochester MN

CANNON FALLS -- Motorists might encounter delays on U.S. 52 and Minnesota Highway 20 north of Cannon Falls as two railroad crossings are being used once again.

Progressive Rail based in Lakeville, Minn., will be running trains through the crossings again after it signed contracts with Fairmount Mineral in Cannon Falls.

Up to two trains per day will use these crossings as they make their way to and from Cannon Falls.

The two railroad crossings were never formally taken out of service, but they haven't been used for almost five years.

"Getting people to not rear-end each other is our biggest concern," MnDOT's Railroad Administration project manager Jim Weatherhead said. "A top of the line warning system will be installed."

The new warning devices will include gates and flashing lights; however, until the installation of these warning devices has been completed, the railroad crossings will be monitored by train crews who will be flagging trains across the highways.

Message signs will also be in place for approximately the first 30 days of operation to give motorists advance warning of potential train traffic.

The trains will run during daylight hours, between approximately 9 a.m. and 3 p.m.

Motorists also are also reminded to be aware of vehicles such as buses and trucks carrying hazardous loads that need to stop at the tracks every time before crossing.

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There are 9 comments - Display All Comments

wrm1701
Rochester, MN

Posted on 11/9/2009 at 10:09:54 AM

A mile before the crossing the speed limit should be dropped to 45 MPH. This should get motorists used to slowing down.

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stalker
Rochester, MN

Posted on 11/9/2009 at 11:22:00 AM

A grade separated intersection is the only safe way to have trains cross the highway. This is an accident waiting to happen; not because the trains are unsafe, but because drivers are.

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profile
b, mn

Posted on 11/9/2009 at 2:43:41 PM

are you all stupid—-da—-look for trains—-look both ways—-da—-

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roch123
rochester, mn

Posted on 11/9/2009 at 3:13:09 PM

This is an accident waiting to happen - I think a crossing on a road where people are driving 65+ is completely insane. The lower speed limit from Cannon Falls should be maintained until after this crossing - the signals need to be drastically improved.

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demeus
Rochester, MN

Posted on 11/9/2009 at 3:26:11 PM

I think it is time to nominate US 52 between Rochester and Saint Paul as one of the most unsafe highways in the nation. We in SE Minnesota need to rise up and inform our elected officials that the US 52 situation is unacceptable.

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darbronno
co
Elgin, MN

Posted on 11/9/2009 at 4:03:13 PM

This road is already bad enough with the cross roads, so sure why not add trains into the mix. I love the idea of cars going 45-65 MPH + having to come to a fast stop because of the trains.

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Bill
Rochester, MN

Posted on 11/9/2009 at 4:46:51 PM

Right now the crossing signals on the south lanes of 52 are smashed and have been for several years. The article mentioned they are going to put in new signals but I am surprised they didn’t fix the old ones in the mean time.

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pupp
somewhere, mn

Posted on 11/9/2009 at 6:22:47 PM

remember people, it is not the road that makes 52 unsafe. The people with the right peddle under thier foot that makes it unsafe.

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rkkragnes
Rochester, MN

Posted on 11/9/2009 at 8:38:48 PM

I believe that Hwy 52 is one of those “someday” projects to get upgraded to a freeway with no grade level crossings of any type between Rochester and the metro. Slowly, and ever so surely, as parts of it are reworked, I’ve watched the bridges go up over the years. Eventually there will be some sort of bypass over/under this too, because they have to now.

For now, are there any stats out there about how many accidents there were while a train used that track some years ago? I would imagine the stats to be about the same now that the train is back.

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A sign along southbound U.S. 52 near Cannon Falls warns of crossing trains. The crossing is one of two near Cannon Falls that have been reinstated after about five years of not being in use.