A section of train tracks in Jefferson County collapsed during last week’s flooding. Luckily, no one was hurt and things are getting back to normal.
“That was devastating. The images that I saw of that, it was quite extraordinary,” Gov. Kathy Hochul said.
The governor was referring to a section of CSX railroad tracks in Adams Center that collapsed last Friday as heavy rains poured down. They're tracks that are critical to not only the North Country, but also much of New York and Canada.
“That main line goes through Jefferson County, all the way up to Ogdensburg and then over the bridge into Canada. So, yes, it is. It's an international issue,” Jefferson County Economic Development CEO Marshall Weir said.
The tracks are also used by Fort Drum.
Fortunately, by Saturday morning, CSX crews were on site and repair work was underway.
“The people working for CSX and fixing up and repairing this line, [they've been] doing an incredible job,” Weir said.
At the same time, CSX was also working to reroute trains to ensure that delayed shipments would move forward and no others would fall behind.
“They've indicated that their freight is still continuing to move across New York State,” New York State Department of Transportation Commissioner Marie Therese Dominguez said.
Delays and traffic rerouting would only last a couple of days, because crews were still on scene doing some clean-up work.
“We are working hand in glove with them, New York State, to make sure that there are no further impacts,” Dominguez added.
Dominguez says there were actually two sections of track that washed out in the region. CSX says its team is working to restore service to all affected areas and customers may still experience some delays.