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Council authorizes rail overpass study
City of Cranbrook council May 31 approved the expenditure of up to $35,000 for a study looking at the possibility of a Theatre Road rail overpass.
“As a part of the ongoing development of the Cranbrook Industrial Lands (Former Tembec property), staff have been working with the developers on potential scope and location of a new railway crossing through the site,” stated a report to council by Mike Matejka of Public Works.
“CP Rail strongly favours limiting new at-grade crossings; therefore, staff would like to consider the feasibility and scope of a potential overpass at or near 1335 Theatre Road. An overpass would be a safer option as it would limit the potential interaction with rail traffic, limit the congestion impact on nearby intersection and highway traffic, and provide a more reliable access to the west side of the railway for emergency response vehicles,” the city report outlined.
“This study would determine the potential footprint of a future overpass such that sufficient lands could be set aside for future road dedication within the Cranbrook Industrial Lands property.
“The timing is of importance due to the development interest and desire to subdivide the site,” the report continued.
“In 2013, Urban Systems undertook a high-level Railway Overpass Options Review looking at several locations in the city, and this was deemed the only feasible location at that time.
This new proposed study would incorporate current CP Rail design criteria, as well as recent traffic studies that were completed as a part of the Cranbrook Industrial Lands development process. This road corridor and crossing is identified in our OCP as a part of the future Major Road Network.”
The estimated costs for the study ($35,000) will come from the city’s Industrial Lands Reserve.
Lead image: Getting around in Cranbrook involves plenty of waiting for trains at the six at-grade crossings in the city. e-KNOW file photo
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