April 29, 2008 - - Retractable railroad barricades located in Wayne County's Van Buren Township are now fully activated. The system is being tested on Denton Road, about 30 miles west of Detroit, and is the first location in the United States to be equipped with the automated barricades that serve as warning devices at a railroad crossing. The barricades rise from the pavement to discourage drivers from driving around lowered crossing gate arms when a train is approaching.
"The system was installed in December, and for the past few months, we have been tweaking the timing of the barricades, and fine-tuning the mechanism with the manufacturer," said K. Michael Bedore, project manager for the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT). "We're now ready to move forward with this experimental site. These devices have great potential, but we want everything to be right the first time through."
The barricades are part of a federal railroad crossing safety test sponsored by MDOT, the Federal Railroad Administration, and the Federal Highway Administration. They are working in partnership with Norfolk Southern Railway, Wayne County, and Intelligent Perimeter Systems.
The barricades are now fully activated and monitored by cameras during a 17-month test period that will continue until spring 2009.
More details on the project are available on the MDOT Web site at: www.michigan.gov/mdot/0,1607,7-151-9620_11057-181132--,00.html.
Protect Michigan families: Where Workers Present Drive 45! - A message from MDOT and Michigan's Give 'em a Brake Safety Coalition
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