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Morriss Sees Optimism After West Side Bridge Meeting

September 20th, 2018 by WCBC Radio

It took city staff close to an hour Tuesday night to provide a comprehensive overview of the plans on the table for replacing the city’s three West Side bridges as well as addressing the Greene Street overpass issue- and as the session closed, there was general sense of optimism that progress is finally being made in talks with CSX. The current plan would see a new bridge at Cumberland Street, with 80 percent of the cost covered by federal dollars and CSX picking up the 20-percent balance while the Fayette Street bridge would be replaced with a modular bridge, with CSX covering the cost of replacing that span. Officials hope CSX will consider not raising the tracks for the Greene Street bridge- but instead opt for improved signage and a height warning bar at that location. As for Washington Street, waivers would be needed from the federal government and CSX for both the sight approach problem and grade-level issues there. Whether it’s appropriate or not, the bridge issue has become a hot button campaign issue for those candidates seeking city office in this year’s election. Mayoral candidate Ray Morriss, a retired CSX employee, attended this week’s special meeting and he came away more encouraged than at any time in recent years…

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