Laurens County rails, crossings on track for upgrades this month

Rails and railroad crossings from Dudley through Dublin will be replaced for the first time since the early 1900s later this month. 

A Georgia Central Railway official said they will be replacing all of the rails and road crossings beginning in Dudley this Wednesday before reaching the crossings in Dublin by Monday, June 10.

“That rail has probably been there since the 1900s,” said City of Dublin Engineer Matthew Bradshaw. “The biggest benefits for the citizens of Dublin is that the crossing will be improved. The railroad is getting a big benefit with the smooth rail and heavier trains can come through on it.” 

For the city of Dublin, the first location for an upgrade will be at Kellam Road. 

“It will be from Kellam to the river and go over to East Dublin,” Bradshaw said.  

Overall, the work will cover seven and a half miles of track. The upgrade will be from smaller rail to bigger rail, which will accommodate longer and heavier trains, the official said.

In all, 18 crossings in Laurens County will be upgraded. The process, for each, requires closure for approximately three days. 

Rails are replaced on the first day, then ties are added as other work is completed by the second. Paving follows on the third, before crews move on to the next crossing. 

Overall, the work will take about three weeks. 

“If a railroad crossing is blocked, all a person will need to do is go down a few more blocks and it should be open,” Bradshaw said. “The good thing is there is another way to go close by. (Georgia Central Railway officials) have let us know about it and we’ll pass it along to public safety and the city will put it out there.”