Sartell Quiet Zone Project Moving Forward
SARTELL -- A north Sartell neighborhood will get its railroad crossing quiet zone after all. The crossing at Benton County Road 55 north of the paper mill site was put in doubt when the cost estimate tripled.
Benton County Engineer Chris Byrd says Burlington Northern-Santa Fe Railroad had notified them a small spur line leading to the paper mill site needed an upgraded warning system. Those improvements would have added $94,000 to the cost of the project.
Byrd says they petitioned the Federal Railroad Authority to see if the upgrades were needed. He says because the spur goes to the now-closed paper mill, it was determined the upgrades weren't needed.
The project can now go forward at a cost of approximately $55,000 dollars and will be paid for by Sartell and Sauk Rapids Township.