3 November 2010

CPR Upgrades Close Roads

Airdrie Alberta - There will be a few road closures in Airdrie over the next week, as Canadian Pacific Railway will be upgrading the train tracks that run through the city.
 
The CP crossing at First Avenue was closed 1 and 2 Nov 2010. The crossing at Yankee Valley Boulevard is scheduled for closure 3 and 4 Nov 2010, and the crossing at Veterans Boulevard is scheduled for closure 8 and 9 Nov 2010.
 
Mark Selan, Canadian Pacific Railway Government and Public Affairs representative, presented city council with an information report on the project Monday evening.
 
The program is intended to replace parts of the existing rail with a heavier standard. There will be no cost to the City for the project.
 
Selan said each road will be closed for a maximum of 48 hours, and the company will work with the City to minimize disruption to residents and businesses.
 
Selan said that if the rail was not replaced this year, the disruption would be worse in the long run.
 
"It would be likely next year that we would need to reduce the speed of trains travelling," he said. "That would increase the disruption to motorists."
 
Mayor Peter Brown asked for an update on the train derailment in August. Selan said that the company has yet to determine a cause, but Transport Canada and the Transportation Safety Board are still investigating.
 
Marie Pollock