Dedicated to the citizens of Mason County, Washington since 1886
Dedicated to the citizens of Mason County, Washington since 1886
If the Shelton City Council gives final approval to accepting a $679,000 state grant on Sept. 3, rail crossings will be removed from three sites, including East Hulbert Road next to the entrance to Miles Sand & Gravel.
The railroad tracks from the former Simpson Lumber Co.'s yard in Dayton and its mill on the Shelton waterfront used to rumble with activity.
Simpson is gone and the rails are no longer used, except by the Vance Creek Railriders in the woods west of Shelton. Blackberry bushes, shrubs and small trees are sprouting through the tracks.
At its Aug. 20 regular meeting, the Shelton City Council gave preliminary approval to accepting a $679,000 grant to remove the rails from three crossings. The council can make the move official with a vote at its regular meeting at 6 p.m. Tuesday.
The grant comes from the state Department of Transportation through its Rail-Highway Crossings Safety Program. It will pay for the design and execution of the track removals. Of the grant amount, $170,787 would go for preliminary engineering and $502,622 would be used for construction.
If passed Tuesday, the city will remove existing railroad tracks and panels, associated equipment, warning devices and railroad cabinets on state Route 3, South Seventh Street and Hulbert Road East. Simpson gave the rail line to the city in 2019.
In its report, the city states that removing the tracks at those locations will improve sight lines, provide clearer delineation of pathways for pedestrians and cyclists, and remove potential roadside hazards. Also, it will "remove a potential hazard for wheelchairs, strollers and bikes caused by the gap between the tracks and railroad panels," according to the city report.
The restoration will include repaving the state Route 3 location, re-establishing vegetation and installing channelization and signs.
The city has removed rail crossings on West Railroad Avenue and West Cota Street in downtown Shelton, Public Works Director Jay Harris told the council.
"We've pulled out a couple of them already, but the remaining crossings still need to be removed," he said. "We need to hire a contractor, especially for the Highway 3 crossing. There's a lot going on right there. It's a busy, busy spot."
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