UPDATED 1:40pm Wednesday with information on school transportation
Westcock and area residents got a surprise Tuesday morning after CN put up a sign warning that the railway crossing at Wood Point Road leading into Westcock would be closed Thursday, from 6am to 7pm. The closed crossing will mean a detour of up to 50 kilometres for residents of Westcock, British Settlement, Wood Point and beyond. It will also mean the school buses will not be able to bring children into Sackville schools from those communities on Thursday.
Resident Patti Steele posted a picture of the sign on social media, and concerns poured in from residents whose daily travel will be affected.
CN spokesperson Mathieu Gaudreault says the company is rehabilitating the crossing, “including the crossing surface.”
Gaudreault also said the company was in contact with the town of Sackville and local emergency services, “to ensure that the impacted citizens and services can plan accordingly.”
Sackville fire chief Craig Bowser says that the department has, “made arrangements to have a fire truck placed on the Westcock side of the tracks to respond as required for fire services.”
Marshview principal Heather Dixon emailed families on Wednesday afternoon to let them know that school buses 203 and 205 will be unable to transport students from the British Settlement/Westcock area on Thursday.
A New Brunswick CN worker said by phone that the railway has received many complaints about the crossing surface. That, and the need for some work on the rails on either side of the crossing made the closure necessary.
Some people may be able to cross on foot during the closure, as long as safety is not an issue at the time, said the CN worker.
