Serving Clovis, Portales and the Surrounding Communities
Serving Clovis, Portales and the Surrounding Communities
Work is expected to start late this week on improvements to the railroad crossing that serves as the borders for New Mexico and Texas and the border communities of Texico and Farwell. Work is anticipated to require at least 10 days of closure for the crossing.
The shake, rattle and roll experience of traveling between Texico and Farwell may soon become a little smoother.
Work to repair railroad tracks separating the state line on U.S. 84/70 is scheduled to begin at the end of this week.
An email to New Mexico state Rep. Randal Crowder, R-Clovis, from David Harris, transit and rail division director for New Mexico Department of Transportation, reports that plans include:
• removing the existing crossing surface and related track material for three tracks.
• installing a new concrete crossing surface on each of the three tracks.
Harris wrote in his email that costs will be shared between BNSF railroad, NMDOT and Texas DOT.
Total cost of the project is expected to be $535,000.
Texico Police Chief Doug Bowman said a railroad official told him the tracks will be closed for about 10 days while repairs are made.
The crossing has been in disrepair for months, with traffic routinely backing up as cars and trucks slowly snake their way across the uneven surface.
"Those are about the roughest I've ever been over," Bowman said.
Farwell Police Chief Larry Kelsay said he expects traffic to be routed north to a crossing near the Farwell cemetery while repairs are made.
A BNSF spokeswoman did not immediately respond to questions on Friday.
The repair work will be extensive, according to the email from Harris to Crowder.
The new surface will include "track panels consisting of new 10 foot long hardwood timber ties on 19.5 inch centers (or in accordance with BNSF standards), new ballast, new anchors, tie plates, and spikes or elastic fasteners," the email reads.
"(T)rack panels should extend at least ten new transition tie lengths beyond each end of the crossing surface."
When the work is complete, the new approach aprons "shall provide a smooth transition between the existing roadway concrete pavement and the new crossing surfaces," Harris wrote.
About 40 percent of the crossing is in New Mexico, with about 60 percent in Texas, according to Harris.
