SHOSHONE – A Union Pacific Railroad company crew is working to reopen a railroad crossing in Shoshone that is temporarily closed due to a trucking accident that happened late Friday afternoon on May 12. Crews are currently onsite and expect to have the section of road along U.S. Route 26 at milepost 165.93 opened as soon as repairs are completed within the next few hours.
A truck pulling a trailer hooked part of a rail while traveling over the railroad crossing and caused damage to the rail and tore out several concrete slabs. There are no reported injuries.
Motorists can expect traffic delays around the Shoshone area and should find alternate routes. To receive the most current traffic updates, call 511 or sign up at 511.idaho.gov.
This incident does not impact the scheduled railroad crossing repair currently scheduled for next week starting May 16. The crossing will be closed to motorists starting on Tuesday, May 16 at 6 a.m. and will reopen when work is complete by approximately 6 p.m. on Thursday, May 18.
Union Pacific Railroad Company will conduct repairs to address the aging infrastructure and includes removing old steel tracks and replacing with new steel tracks, concrete slabs, and asphalt.
Motorists traveling northbound on U.S. Route 93 wishing to proceed toward Shoshone will be detoured west on U.S. Route 26. Those traveling southbound on State Highway 75 wishing to proceed toward Shoshone will be detoured west on U.S. Route 20. The closure and detour will remain for approximately three days until the railroad crossing repairs are completed.
ITD, Idaho State Police, and local law enforcement caution motorists to slow down and pay attention when driving in work zones, where increased speeding fines and other penalties apply. Motorists are encouraged to plan ahead and dial 5-1-1 or visit 511.idaho.gov for information on the state highway or interstate system.