RR crossing closures eyed

A public hearing will be held on the proposed closure of a pair of railroad crossings in the Estherwood-Midland area.

Offsetting the possible closures would be an upgrade of a third crossing in that same area.

Members of the Acadia Parish Police Jury’s Roads and Bridges Committee learned of the plan Tuesday night.

The state Department of Transportation and Development and the railroad company that owns the tracks have proposed the plan and will fund the upgrade of the crossing on Nighthawk Road, according to Michael “Pee Wee” Schexnider, parish road supervisor.

The two crossings proposed for closure are at either end of  Old Spanish Trail Road, which parallels the tracks between Estherwood and Midland.

“Nighthawk Road is right about in the middle between the two to be closed,” Schexnider said, adding that the upgrade will include crossing gates along with approach improvements.

This is not the first time such a plan has been submitted, according to Richard “Dickie” Latiolais, secretary-treasurer.

“This came up a while back and was tabled for several years,” he said.

The committee will recommend that the full jury set a date for a public hearing on the proposed closures/upgrade. The full jury meets at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, May 13.

In other business during the monthly committee meetings, officials from OneAcadia addressed the Industrial Development Committee, introducing the newly formed group to the jury and inviting participation.

Laurie Suire, interim executive director, explained that OneAcadia is a “parishwide business alliance” with “leadership from across the parish.”

She introduced Pat Bordes II, recently elected president of the OneAcadia board of directors, who distributed informational pamphlets to the jurors.

Suire went on to say that the group hopes to work with the governmental entities and chambers of commerce from across the parish to “promote an environment for strong economic vitality and improved quality of life” for the entire parish.

“We believe that what is good for part of the parish is good for all of the parish,” she said.

She invited jurors to join the group — individually as an entity.

In other business Tuesday night:

• The Airport Committee will recommend that the full jury:

- reject bids for renovations to the mosquito control building and proposed hangar building and revise the scope of the project to lower costs.

- consider leasing 29.1 acres of land at LeGros Memorial Airport to Percheron Field Services for use as a pipe yard.

• The Roads and Bridges Committee will recommend:

- calling a pair of public hearings to set 35-mph speed limits on Ye Ole Country Road in the Iota area and Kite Road.

- authorizing the president to sign a letter to the state DOTD regarding the priority list for the use of state right-sizing credits.

• The Finance Committee will recommend:

– declaring vehicles and equipment from the Road Department as surplus and authorize the sale thereof.