Heads up, Wright County travelers: if you're planning to use County Road 139 north of Hwy. 12 in the City of Delano, you'll need to rethink your route later this week. According to the Wright County Highway Department, BNSF Railroad will be shutting down the designated stretch for critical track repairs. The closure is scheduled for Thursday, Oct. 23, and Friday, Oct. 24, and while this may only be a two-day disruption, weather has the power to shuffle this deck of plans.
The good residents of Delano and daily commuters will have to navigate without a detour; the powers-that-be have decided not to post one. This means to hastily make arrangements for alternate pathways if this railroad crossing figures into your regular travel plans. The timing of this maintenance is not just a mere inconvenience but a reminder of the ceaseless wear and tear upon the arteries that undergird our everyday lives.
The highway department has not released specifics about the extent of the repairs, but they've made it clear: the tracks need work, and this is the time to do it. Keeping the trains running on time is more than a phrase; it's a necessity for the freight and the economies that depend on the iron horse's punctuality.
For questions on the matter, the highway department is reachable at (763) 682-7383 between the hours of 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. It might be prudent to call ahead before you plan to never cross that railroad. As for the unposted detour, local maps and GPS apps will likely become the best friend for someone looking to skirt around the closed crossing.
More information on the closure can be found on the Wright County Highway Department's newsflash page. Keep this in mind as you plan your late October commutes, because, as they say, knowing is half the battle—particularly when the other half is getting from point A to B.
