This railroad crossing at the junction of Route 31 south and Burns Hill Road is one of two grade crossings in Wilton that will be reconstructed this summer. The project is hampered by the Wilton Falls Building on the left which reduces sight distance, the river and two bridges.

WITLON – The Milford-Bennington Railroad tracks cross Route 31 south in a difficult place. There are two bridges, a steep road entering on the right which leads to the school, and a historic building which limits the sight distance on the left. The road is narrow and has to accommodate truck traffic which is excluded from near-by Main Street. It has been a problem for years with several accidents and many “near misses.”

On Monday, June 20, Michael Mozer, services chief with the state Department of Transportation’s Bureau of Highway Design, held an informational hearing to gain community import so a plan for an upgrade of the intersection can be finalized. About 20 people attended.

“The plan is to improve safety by adding signals, striping and signs,” he said. All the equipment would be replaced, and the tracks enclosed in cement “tubs” rather than the asphalt now used. Crosswalks will be slightly relocated.

Meli Dube, the project’s environmental manager, said her team had “determined there is no adverse effect on the area,” in spite of the cultural and historic surroundings. Stony Brook enters the Souhegan River near the junction and both are protected shorelines. “The trestle over the Souhegan is over 50 years old (it dates to 1912) is eligible for the Historic Register,” she said. The railroad itself is historic, that section dating to 1873, and several neighboring buildings are historic.

Dillan Schmidt with Santec, the engineering firm overseeing the site, described several alternatives, various ways to move the roadway away from the Wilton Falls Building to improve the sharp curve and a traffic island would be reconfigured. Changing the current “Y” intersection to a conventional “T,” was considered, but several of those present noted the steepness of Burns Hill Road and said “you need a straight shot going up,” and the difficulty in stopping in slippery weather.

Gates were not recommended because of the peculiarities of the site. Signs will be improved, and flashing caution lights installed at the bridge over Stony Brook.

Resident Tom Schultz said the danger at the crossing “is the train, not the traffic.”

Economic Development Committee Chairman Jennifer Beck agreed it is an improvement but “not a great solution for a tight spot.”

The work will be done while school is not in section. Route 31 would be closed for about seven days with traffic detoured to the Pine Valley junction with Route 101. Mozer said a lane would be kept open for emergency vehicles.

The DOT also plans to upgrade the Route 31 north crossing known as “Concrad’s.” That project was designated as “simple and straightforward” with “no cultural resources in the area.”

Work would take several days with traffic limited to one lane with temporary traffic signals.

No dates were set for the work.