Drivers crossing the railroad tracks on East Minnesota Streetwill soon be able to stop worrying about falling into a ditch, buta current road closure is not tied a planned widening project.

The street was closed this past weekend by the city waterdepartment to lay a six-inch line to provide better water serviceto residents and to install a fire hydrant.

“It’s two separate projects,” said Steve Moreton, public worksdirector. “It’ll be a while before we can begin to widen the road.There’s not enough room for all of them there at once.”

The city and Canadian National Railroad have agreed on a jointeffort to widen Minnesota Street where it narrows at the railroadcrossing, Moreton said. That project will begin when the waterdepartment completes its work at the site.

Moreton said the railroad will provide the city with a largerculvert and city crews will supply the labor to widen the road.

“It’s just short on that side,” he said.

Brookhaven Police Chief Pap Henderson initiated the efforts. Heestimated police officers respond an average of 15 to 20 times ayear to vehicles that have fallen into the ditch.

“I was getting so many complaints that I got Steve to go downwith me to look at it,” Henderson said. “He agreed that it neededto be done.”

While many of the vehicles that fall into the ditch are tryingto circumvent the railroad crossing arms, it is not true of allvehicles, Henderson said.

“Drivers have a natural inclination to move to the side of theroad when faced with oncoming traffic,” he said. “A lot of timesdrivers there are watching the traffic, and not the road, and don’trealize it narrows.”

Moreton said the railroad was hesitant to make any changes atfirst, but after reviewing the situation agreed to the changes.

“The railroad has concerns that now that it is going to be moreaccessible, more cars will be going around the cross arms,” Moretonsaid. “We pointed out that either way it is still illegal.”

Henderson said laws prohibiting people from driving around thecrossing arms would be strictly enforced.

“This isn’t to encourage people to go around those gates,” hesaid. “It’s to prevent people from falling off into that hole.”