Equipment used by the Norfolk Southern rail gang was stationed on a side rail at CFS, just south of the CR 900N rail crossing. The crew will begin moving north toward Milford Wednesday morning and is expected to be working on the town crossings next week. (Photo by Deb Patterson)

MILFORD — Replacement of rails along the Norfolk Southern line is nearing Milford.

A check Wednesday morning, July 11, found the CR 900N crossing is closed with crews preparing to begin working north.

Milford Fire Department officials were notified Tuesday CR 900N was closed Tuesday night and expected to be reopened sometime Wednesday morning. Additionally CR 1050N was noted as being closed Wednesday and would re-open sometime early next week. Kilmer Drive is slated to be closed Sunday but open to some traffic needed to go through. The fire department is expected to be notified later this week about when town crossings are to be closed.

Jonathan Glass, manager public relations, Norfolk Southern Corporation, stated Tuesday the dual rail gang is currently working north of Leesburg, and while there is still some uncertainty involved the dual rail gang is expected to begin work in Milford Sunday, July 15, or Monday, July 16.

The gang works a Sunday to Wednesday week and close to 80 railroad employees are involved in the current rail replacement project. That group will deploy about 40 pieces of equipment that moves in assembly-line fashion down the track.

The new ribbons of rail being installed are 1,140 feet long and multiple crossings will be closed simultaneously. Glass stated provisions will be made to allow access to emergency vehicles in any emergency situations. At lease one of the busiest crossings is planned to be reopened at the end of each workday.

Milford Fire Department has plans to place fire equipment on the east side of the tracks if all crossings in town are closed at one time.