Bristow Making Railroad Crossings Safer With Help From Federal Grant

Drivers in Bristow will soon travel through safer railroad crossings thanks to changes coming to several intersections.

Mayor Kris Wyatt said every time she hears stories of collisions at train tracks, it makes her think of how her community is making things safer for people.

She has worked to ensure her city will benefit from the Federal Railroad Crossing Elimination grant program.

This will allow Bristow to make three upgrades to its crossings. They will receive barrier arms with lights, upgrades to surfaces, and better lighting.

Mayor Wyatt said without this grant, the city couldn’t pay for the roughly $500,000 in changes each crossing would need.

The city will have to pay for signage leading up to the railroad right of way.

Mayor Wyatt said people who live in the city are top of mind while construction work is getting done.

"They won't close the East 5th Street until all the other repairs are done and there won't be two areas of track that are being repaired at the same time," explained Kris Wyatt, Mayor of City of Bristow.

Leaders said the project will take about a year to complete. To qualify for the funding, they do have to close one crossing permanently.