The Central Railroad Corridor Project in downtown Wichita will reach another milestone on Sunday, March 16, when UPRR (Union Pacific) trains will be re-routed to the new elevated track system. As of that date, nearly all trains on the tracks through the heart of downtown will use the new elevated bridge structures. In addition to improving traffic flow, this will greatly improve access for emergency vehicles to and from Via Christi Hospital on St. Francis Street.
After Sunday, there will be no train traffic on Central or Murdock Streets. The only track that will remain on the ground level permanently is an industrial service track at 13th Street.
Dondlinger and Sons Construction Company, Inc., the City’s general contractor, and their subcontractors will work with three railroad companies and two utility companies to accomplish the planned cut-over on March 16.
As part of the UPRR re-routing process, 21st street will be closed east of Broadway at the railroad tracks from March 15 through March 22. Large trucks will be detoured south to Kellogg. Vehicles less than 13 feet 6 inches tall will be able to use 13th Street.
Work will continue on the elevated structures to provide for three overhead railroad tracks. The old bridges at First and Second Streets will be removed and replaced with higher, wider, more modern structures. Street traffic will be temporarily restricted at Central, Murdock and 13th Streets as the bridges there are completed and the streets are widened and lowered to provide more overhead clearance. In addition to improving traffic flow, the final structures will significantly reduce downtown noise levels from the rail traffic.
The Central Railroad Corridor project is scheduled to be completed in the fall of 2009. On October 16, 2007, most of the trains operating at street level were elevated to travel above on the partially completed bridges.
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