Motorists and pedestrians alike have to make detours in downtown Royal Oak now that repairs on two key railroad crossings are underway.
CN Railroad crews Monday started work on the crossings at Lincoln east of Main Street, and at Fourth Street east of Washington. Work is expected to continue through May 6.
The city had been getting steady complaints from motorists about the poor conditions at the crossings.
“The crossing at Lincoln hasn’t been (upgraded) in the 24 years I’ve been with the city,” said City Engineer Matt Callahan.
Royal Oak had complained to the Michigan Department of Transportation agency that oversees railroads and safety-related issues.
City officials also set up a meeting CN officials, said Mayor Michael Fournier.
“We wanted to foster better relations” with the railroad, he said. “We were able to agree on some much needed crossing repairs and we look forward to CN completion of their work.”