Hillsborough mayor: Norfolk Southern installs temporary patches at Auton Road crossings

Mayor John Ciccarelli announced that Norfolk Southern has placed temporary patches over trenches at all four railroad crossings on Auton Road "as a way to make the drive safer while we wait for them to complete their work," he said. The mayor made the remarks at the Auton Road crossing and thanked township staff and residents who raised concerns.

"We did this after the meeting we had with them last Thursday, and the persistence of our township engineer, the administrative office, as well as the reactions from the public about the conditions that these crossings were in," Ciccarelli said. He said the temporary work addresses public-safety concerns while crews complete the full repairs.

Ciccarelli said, "We fully expect Norfolk Southern to finish this in early November," and urged drivers to heed existing warning signs at the crossings. "So the signs are still out. Warning people, so still be careful when crossing these railroad tracks," he added.

The mayor framed the patches as an interim safety measure prompted by local complaints and township follow-up rather than a final repair. No vote or formal action by a governing body was recorded in the remarks; Ciccarelli characterized the announcement as an update to residents and closed by thanking the public.

Next steps: Norfolk Southern’s crews are expected to complete the permanent work in early November, according to Ciccarelli. Motorists were asked to continue following posted warnings until the crossings are finished.