Track maintenance issues cited with Norfolk Southern

By CHRISTINE HAINES

chaines@yourmvi.com

Some Mon Valley residents have been experiencing what they believe are longer-than-usual delays in the annual track maintenance by Norfolk Southern Railroad.

A crossing in Stockdale was torn up in June, with large stone put down initially, but the crossing remained unpaved until Friday.

“The fire department actually closed it,” said Stockdale Fire Chief Tom Wilkinson. “Cars were getting stuck on the crossing in the stones. When we had a house fire last week, we moved the cones and went across it or we would have had a mile detour.”

Dunlevy Mayor Ross Landman said Norfolk Southern usually has 10 to 12 crews making track repairs at this time each year, but he was told by a railroad official that this year there are only three crews working.

“They’re in Stockdale today and they’re paving,” Wilkinson said Friday.

He said it took getting state Sen. Camera Bartolotta involved before the paving got done.

Dunlevy officials are wondering if they’ll need to do the same in order to get their new crossing constructed.

“We’ve been dealing with this project since 2017,” said Landman.

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