Photo by Todd Weddle / St. Joseph News-Press / Purchase this photo

Wes Jones, right, and Jason Angst, center, maneuver tampers across fresh asphalt Monday afternoon at the rail road crossing along Fourth Street. as other members of the city of St. Joseph street and maintenance department work on the newly reconstructed intersection. BNSF Railway began installing new signals at the crossing last week as part of a larger plan to implement a Downtown quiet zone.

Let the real work begin.

After months of planning from city, state and corporate officials, BNSF Railway Co. began last week to install new signals at its Fourth Street railroad crossing. The work is part of the larger plan to implement a Downtown quiet zone that will allow trains to travel through the area without blowing their whistles.

Once the railroad completes signal upgrades at the Fourth Street and Francis Street crossings, the city will construct concrete medians that will prevent vehicles from driving around the crossing arms to beat a train.

The city will permanently close three additional crossings. Workers will barricade crossings on Mitchell Avenue and Monterrey Street by Dec. 20, at which point the railroad will tear out the crossing and eventually the pavement that leads up to the tracks. A fence will block the third crossing, an alley near Seneca Street.

Clint Thompson, director of planning and community development for the city, said the project schedule will ensure drivers still have a way across the tracks with minimal detours.

“We’re trying to make sure we coordinate the improvements so we’re not closed on Fourth Street at the same time that we’re closed on Monterrey and Mitchell,” Mr. Thompson said. “At any given time during construction, there will be at least one place where people can cross.”

The city hopes it can begin work on the Mitchell and Monterrey closings by Nov. 9 so it can complete the job by Dec. 20. Median work on the two crossings that will remain open — Fourth and Francis Streets — must be completed by April 1 so the railroad can modify the crossings by May, when the quiet zone is expected to take effect.

The City Council passed an ordinance last month to help Seaman & Schuske Metal Works deal with the closure. The company previously stated concerns that the Mitchell Street closing would affect its business. In response, the council approved $10,000 in Community Development Block Grant funding for the company to modify its building so customers can load and unload from Fourth Street.

The quiet zone project will not cost the city a single dollar. The Missouri Department of Transportation will pay a portion of the costs, while credits from BNSF for closing the three crossings will cover the city’s share of the bill.

The council approved the quiet zone project in May.

Clinton Thomas can be reached

at clintonthomas@npgco.com.