Circuit issues cause several railroad crossing malfunctions in Brunswick
CSX Railroad Crossings in Brunswick Cause Weekly Traffic Disruptions
Brunswick, Maine – The city’s traffic lights have been running at a different speed this week after the railroad crossing arms on Maine Street and Church Road were repeatedly stuck in the lowered position, blocking traffic for hours. Brunswick Police Department officials warned drivers on social media that the incidents occurred on Sunday, Tuesday and Wednesday, and confirmed that the problems were resolved by mid‑afternoon Wednesday.
The first incident was reported on Sunday morning, when the crossing on Maine Street remained stuck and vehicles were unable to pass. The next day, a second malfunction happened at the same location, prompting the police to issue another alert. The third and final disruption began early Wednesday around 7 a.m. at the Church Road crossing. The police posted on their official social‑media feed that the arms were jammed and remained down until 2 p.m., when crews were able to get them working again.
The Brunswick Police Department said the problem stemmed from a fault in the signal circuit that controls the crossing arms. “It is odd to have back‑to‑back traffic disruptions caused by railroad crossing malfunctions,” Police Chief Scott Stewart told reporters in an email Wednesday. He added that “railroad staff conveyed to us that they have replaced some sensors on the tracks and that should take care of the problem.”
The rail company responsible for maintaining the crossings, CSX, sent crews to the site on Wednesday. “Crews were on site in Brunswick fixing the crossing on Church Road,” said Austin Stanton, CSX’s director of media relations, in a telephone interview. He said the crossings should now be operating normally. He also reminded residents that they can report any ongoing issues at a CSX‑run crossing by calling the number posted on the blue signs: 1‑800‑232‑0144.
While the exact number of vehicles that were delayed was not released, residents said the Church Road incident kept traffic moving slowly for almost seven hours, creating a significant backlog of cars and trucks. The Maine Street incidents also left commuters stranded, though the police did not disclose the duration of those stoppages.
Brunswick officials have asked that drivers remain vigilant at railroad crossings until the CSX sensors have fully integrated into the system. In the meantime, the city’s police department will continue to monitor the situation and post timely alerts through its official channels.
