CSX responds to railroad issue

Staff Report

Tallassee mayor Johnny Hammock reached out to officials at CSX about delays on its railroad crossing on Highway 229 just south of Tallassee.

"The regional manager called me," Hammock said. "She spoke to the operating team and sent out a bulletin to not block the crossing. Hopefully this will work."

Those who travel on 229 have encountered several delays in recent months.

"There are some gravel carts and sand carts coming from Notasulga. They are dropping them there. If they sit there for more than four hours, federal regulation is they have to check the brakelines. Operators were not doing what they were supposed to in blocking the Milstead crossing there."

Hammock noted that the blockage could be a problem with emergency personnel not having access on the thoroughfare.

"I hit them with the public safety (issue). It could be a life or death situation. That's what I pressed on them."