Residents and commuters in New Palestine can now breathe a sigh of relief as the malfunctioning railroad crossing near Main Street on County Road 500 West, commonly known as Gem Road, has been repaired. The New Palestine Police Department had previously advised the public on social media to avoid this crossing due to the crossing arms being stuck in the down position, creating significant traffic disruptions.
According to a Facebook update from the local police, the issue "has been resolved and traffic can resume normal activity." This comes after the railroad company CSX was notified and quickly set to work to fix the malfunction. During the downtime, drivers were encouraged to use the alternative route provided by the newly reopened bridge on Bittner Road, which likely eased some congestion.
The original notice of the faulty crossing was issued on Saturday, warning that there was "no current timetable for when the crossing will open back up." This statement likely prompted concerns about long-term disruptions among residents and those who regularly travel through the area.
