(WAUKESHA, WI) – Waukesha County leaders are pleased to announce that Union Pacific will undertake replacement of the railroad crossing at Moorland Road (County Highway O) in New Berlin, just south of Greenfield Avenue (State Highway 59). Construction is set for Saturday, May 21 through Tuesday, May 24, 2022.
During this work, a 1.5-mile segment of Moorland Road (County Highway O) will be closed between West Greenfield Avenue (State Highway 59) and West Cleveland Avenue (County Highway D). Drivers will be detoured to S. 108th Street. Alternate routes are strongly encouraged. Additional resources for Waukesha County drivers are found at www.WaukeshaCounty.gov/
“Waukesha County has been advocating on behalf of residents since 2016 to get this railroad crossing repaired,” said Waukesha County Public Works Director Allison Bussler. “I am pleased to announce that this crossing will be fully replaced. This will benefit tens of thousands of drivers and neighbors using our roadways for decades.”
It was in 2016 that Waukesha County began reporting the crossing to Union Pacific for needed repairs. In June 2021, the Waukesha County Board of Supervisors passed a resolution authorizing staff to take all necessary steps to resolve repair issues, which was conveyed to Union Pacific with a 30-day deadline for appropriate action plans.
“Although this project will be an inconvenience during construction, this long overdue improvement will significantly enhance safety on Moorland Road,” said County Board Supervisor Ted Wysocki. “We worked with Waukesha County Public Works, the state, the railroad, and residents to make this happen.”
After the 30-day period lapsed, the County petitioned the Office of the Commissioner of Railroads (OCR) to investigate the crossing. As a result, a public hearing was scheduled, with testimony from experts and more than 500 official comments by Waukesha County drivers. In November 2021, the OCR issued a decision that Union Pacific must replace the railroad crossing by June 1, 2022.
“Moorland Road is one of the most significant corridors in Waukesha County,” said Waukesha County Executive Paul Farrow. “One of our most significant transportation projects is Moorland Road’s rehabilitation that will, over time, improve nearly all of the road from Bluemound Road in Brookfield all the way south to Interstate 43 in New Berlin and beyond. Replacement of this very busy crossing is key to fully improving this roadway.”
