Tree branches cleared from Cajun Paradise after resident brings visibility problems to light
Three railroad crossings in St. Charles Parish were closed last week for rehabilitation, all within a few miles of where waterworks employee Jacque Griffin, 19, lost his life when a train collided with his parish vehicle.
Though the work did not include the particular crossing where the fatal wreck occurred, it did include the Cajun Paradise crossing, which had visibility concerns because of tree branches that hampered the sight of residents trying to cross the tracks.
Paradis resident Colin Breaux said that he had brought the issue at Cajun Paradise to the attention of Union Pacific two years ago. It was widely thought that Union Pacific was responsible for maintaining that crossing, because their trains do travel on those tracks.
However, that is not the case.
“We actually took a look at that and realized that set of tracks is actually the responsibility of Burlington Northern Sante Fe,” Raquel Espinoza, the director of corporate relations and media for the southern region of Union Pacific, said. “Safety is our top priority, and this was something we were concerned about.”
Because of the safety hazard that the crossing presented, Espinoza said that Union Pacific notified BNSF about the issue.
“At the Cajun Paradise crossing, we did what is called a complete rehab,” Joe Faust, the south regional director of public affairs for BNSF, said. “We replaced the rail ties at three crossings, and at Cajun Paradise we cleared some trees due to visibility concerns.”
Now, that crossing looks completely different.
Besides Cajun Paradise, the other crossings that were closed last week for work include Nedd Lane, and an unnamed crossing one mile west of Cajun Paradise.
Union Pacific said that they have checked into a complaint regarding the Cajun Paradise crossing, and don’t have one on record.
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