Auburndale Pedestrian Underpass

Challenge

A dramatic rise in railroad traffic through the Village of Auburndale over the past several years raised major safety concerns for residents. A regional railroad company runs nearly 24 trains per day at speeds of up to 60 miles per hour through the heart of the small village. At the same time, trains parked on a parallel track frequently cut off access between homes and businesses and from essential services, for hours at a time.

Solution

The SEH project team, WisDOT and the Village worked together to improve access to the neighborhood without disrupting the train schedule. The project team updated existing roads, closed four track crossing intersections and constructed a new access road. The team also provided a dedicated bicycle and pedestrian underpass to eliminate non-vehicle traffic from crossing railroad tracks within the Village. 

Awards

• 2018 Excellence in Highway Design Award | WisDOT