By Khalida Sarwari
Commuters in Campbell this week may have noticed digital signs announcing that during the week of Sept. 13-18, repair work will be done on the Hamilton Avenue freight railroad track crossing, resulting in the closure of parts of Hamilton Avenue.
Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority crews will be making roadway repairs where Hamilton Avenue meets the Union Pacific Railroad track, since existing conditions are “jarring for vehicles and create a rough ride for commuters when crossing the tracks,” said VTA spokeswoman Brandi Childress.
Crews will remove and reinstall the concrete crossing panels and raise the existing track to match the pavement elevation, as well as perform paving activities.
The construction will generate noise from saw cutting, especially to homes located directly behind the the railroad tracks’ wall. Residents and businesses located within a half-mile from where the repairs will take place were mailed a construction notice advising them of the noise impacts, said Childress.
Construction activities will also generate traffic impacts. There will be partial lane closures on the nights of Sept. 13, 17 and 18 for paving activities. A lane will be open for traffic to pass through the construction zone.
A full weekend closure of Hamilton Avenue will take place from the night of Sept. 14 starting at 10 p.m. to 6 p.m. on Sept. 16. The closure is at the freight crossing west of Creekside Way and east of the state Highway 127 on-ramp.
Those getting off of state Highway 17 onto east Hamilton Avenue are advised to turn right on Hamilton, left onto Winchester Boulevard, left onto Campbell Avenue, left onto Bascom Avenue and right onto Hamilton Avenue.
To get to north or south Highway 17 from west Hamilton Avenue, turn left onto Bascom Avenue, right onto Campbell Avenue, right onto Winchester Boulevard, right onto Hamilton Avenue and follow signs to Highway 17.
To continue on west Hamilton Avenue, turn left onto Bascom Avenue, right onto Campbell Avenue, right onto Winchester Boulevard, and left onto Hamilton Avenue. To continue east on Hamilton, turn right onto Winchester Boulevard, left onto Campbell Avenue, left onto Bascom Avenue and right onto Hamilton Avenue.
There are no changes to west Hamilton Avenue from from Highway 17 or to north or south Highway 17 from east Hamilton Avenue.
The cost of the repairs is about $250,000 and will be funded by the VTA, according to Childress.
“VTA is responsible for making these repairs because we purchased this right-of-way for the Vasona Light Rail Extension now in operation since 2005,” Childress said. “The track and station are grade separated so light rail service will not be impacted during the construction activity.”
For more information, call VTA community outreach at 408.321.7575 or visit www.vta.org.
Railroad crossing repair work will result in the closure of parts of Hamilton Avenue
