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Virginia RR crossing closure to fund Lisbon Street project

These cement barricades serve as a reminder to incoming traffic that city officials shut down this railroad crossing on Virginia Avenue earlier this week. (Photo by Stephanie Ujhelyi)

EAST LIVERPOOL — Two years after the deal was struck by then-mayor Ryan Stovall, the Virginia Avenue railroad crossing is finally closed.

Greg Bricker, who succeeded him, announced the closure this week with city employees positioning cement barricades at the railroad crossing to make it official.

City Safety-Service Director David Dawson said Tuesday afternoon that the arrangement brings to completion the city’s contract with Norfolk Southern. As a result of the closure, the city will receive $200,000, which is earmarked to pay the city’s portion of a loan for the recently completed Lisbon Street project, Dawson explained.

Under the subsidy agreement that was signed in 2018 by Stovall (on behalf of the city), Norfolk Southern, the Public Utilities of Ohio and the Ohio Rail Development Commission, municipal officials are to advance warnings and pavement markings near the Virginia Avenue location for reimbursement of up to $5,000.

On the other hand, Norfolk Southern is responsible for handling all similar work within their railroad right-of-ways.

Earlier this year, Columbiana County commissioners allotted $69,000 to resurface Virginia Avenue and Central Street between St. George Street and Ohio Avenue. East Liverpool’s local match is $5,366.

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