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City to pursue roughly $40,000 detection-and-warning system after repeated over-height strikes at Main Street railroad bridge
Summary
After staff presented options to reduce over-height collisions at the 11-foot-4-inch Main Street railroad bridge, the Mayor and Board Commissioners supported moving forward with a roughly $40,000 center-mounted detection and warning system and additional signage; Union Pacific declined to place equipment on the bridge or contribute financially.
Mike Williams, Tech Services supervisor, briefed the Mayor and Board Commissioners on repeated collisions at the low-clearance Main Street railroad bridge and proposed a center-mounted camera/detection warning system as the next step.
Mike said the bridge averages about six strikes per year, based on 83 recorded hits from 2010 through 2023, and staff have tried several mitigations over time. "It gets hit approximately 6 times per year," Mike said. He outlined options and costs: an over-the-road mast arm and curtain system (about $85,000), infrared over-road detection systems (range $65,000–$110,000 depending on features), and a center-mounted high-definition camera/approach-zone detection system that staff estimated could be implemented in the ~$39,000–$40,000 range.
Mike described operational details for the preferred center-mounted detection: cameras would monitor approach zones, trigger bright rapid-flash beacons and loud horns when an over-height vehicle is detected, and could be scaled to send notifications to emergency dispatch or law enforcement. Staff emphasized the system could be freestanding and avoid placing equipment on the bridge itself; Union Pacific Railroad's contractor, Banish, told staff the railroad would not place equipment on the bridge or provide financial support and needs bridge clearance for inspections.
Commissioners and staff discussed realistic expectations: even with a warning system, strikes may continue because modern vehicles are taller and options to eliminate strikes completely (raising the bridge or lowering the road) would cost millions. The mayor and commissioners agreed staff should proceed with the approximately $40,000 solution and additional signage on side routes unless objections are raised. The staff member said they would proceed and provide a 30–90 day update on progress.
Ending: Staff will move forward to install a center-mounted detection and warning system and additional route signage, with follow-up reporting to the commission on implementation and effectiveness; the commission asked staff to document enforcement and to check with the police on whether citations are being issued after strikes.
