I-80 runs east-west through here, just north of the Platte River. At an otherwise completely unremarkable interchange with a local side road in a very 'middle of nowhere' place in south central Nebraska, I-80 crosses Union Pacific's intensely busy 'Marysville Subdivision' mainline. The interesting aspect here is that the railroad crosses the sideroad AT GRADE directly under the I-80 bridges (crossing protection is provided by signals and gates). There was a small 'mom and pop' gas station in the southwest quadrant when I travelled through there in March of 1994 (I don't know if it is still there), it was a good place to pull off the highway, fill up, buy some snack food and soda and kick back for a short railfanning break while on the big roadtrip.
This is a very innovative way to save construction money while crossing both a crossroad and a railroad, and I am kind of surprized that this hasn't been used more often.
By the way, in my own frontyard, WisDOT is planning a similar overcrossing on the new US 10 freeway where it will cross Wisconsin Central's mainline at its 'Clayton Rd' crossing 3 km west of current US 45, a short distance west of the Appleton/Neenah, WI area (but there will NOT be an interchange there).
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Just follow this sign to make your OWN great signs!!!! |
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This page © Michael G. Koerner |
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