City of Montesano issued the following announcement on Dec. 24.
The Montesano Police Department is asking for everyone's compliance in avoiding these areas.
On December 21, a partial train derailment took place near Montesano. Railroad crews are currently working on clearing the tracks of the derailed cargo train cars and re-establish train routes.
Due to this clean-up project, Monte-Elma Road from Poplar Road to East Beacon Avenue will be closed to thru traffic for an undetermined amount of time..
The railroad company would also like us to advise the citizens of the area to NOT walk the railroad tracks or come into the area to observe this derailment. Unauthorized persons in the area may be unknowingly subjecting themselves to danger.
Large equipment has been brought into the area to facilitate this clean-up. The cars involved in the derailment are also in an unstable state and could move or roll. The railroad company is also moving in equipment on the undamaged tracks to facilitate clean-up and construction. As all this is taking place, unauthorized subjects in the area of the tracks or the roadway adjacent to the tracks add to a already dangerous situation for themselves as well as workers in the area. Persons in the area may also inadvertently delay the operations of the clean-up. We are asking everyone to avoid these areas.
Washington State Department of Transportations guidelines to the public in reference access to railroad tracks are as follows:
Railroad tracks are private property, not public trails. It's illegal and dangerous to walk on or near tracks unless you're using a designated crossing. It's also illegal and extremely dangerous to drive around closed crossing gates or to ignore flashing warning lights.
It is also important to remember that an unauthorized subject upon the railways of Washington State can and may be charged with the crime of Trespass.
We appreciate everyone's compliance while these workers spend their holiday getting our import and export transportation needs up and running again.
Original source can be found here.
Source: City of Montesano
Alerts Sign-up