MACON, Ga. — Last month, 76-year-old Cheryl Rawls died after her SUV got stuck on the railroad tracks at the Tucker and Forsyth Road crossing.
Neighbors and witnesses who saw the accident told 13WMAZ that the crossing isn't safe. Now, Macon-Bibb County says they're temporarily closing the intersection to survey possible safety changes.
A trip to the nearby grocery store is starting to become an issue for Shelby Cramer.
“I've lived here for 19 years,” Cramer said.
19 years of feeling unsafe while driving on the Forsyth and Tucker Roads rail crossing.
“The traffic down Rivoli has tripled in the morning time at the Tucker crossing,” Cramer said; “If you're turning right or left, there's only so much room that you've got to turn and when that traffic is backed up, people are on the railroad tracks and they can't move if a train is coming,” Cramer said.
Mayor Lester Miller says several neighbors are worried for their safety after hearing about the accident. Which is why he says the city will now be temporarily closing the crossing.
“We heard verbally from citizens of Macon-Bibb County asking if anything can be done about the railroad crossing there at Tucker and Forsyth and the traffic congestion there,” Miller said.
While the crossing is closed, Miller says they're going to consider safety changes in the area; they'll also remove the north and southbound stop signs on Rivoli Drive.
“It's so we can evaluate if there's any other alternatives for permanent road changes that can be done," Miller said. "That could be signage [or] that could be new roads."
Cramer says they need to shut down the railroad permanently.
“There would be no more accidents there and no more lives would be lost, "Cramer said.
Miller says they haven't made any permanent decisions, but it's important to pay attention to signs and lights while the crossing is closed.
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