ABERDEEN, S.D. (HubCityRadio.com) – Some major changes are taking place with railroad crossings in Aberdeen.

Some have been completed while others are still in the works, according to Robin Bobzien, Public Works Director.

Motorists have probably already noticed one of the major changes as the railroad tracks that bisect N. Roosevelt St. and Eighth Ave. N.E., have seen much more traffic than in the past.

As a result of those tracks with the new crossing arms, raised cement medians have been put in. Bobzien said those are a safety feature.

He said message boards will be placed well ahead of those tracks to alert motorists of oncoming trains so they can take an alternate route.

The medians will also allow Aberdeen the opportunity to have quiet zones, where trains will not need to blow their whistles.

Bobzien said plans call for the addition of medians at the State St. and Dakota St. crossings within the next eight months or so (once the Dakota St. new crossing material is installed), and eventually the crossings on Main St. and Kline St. He said something would need to be done as well at Roosevelt St. near Milwaukee Ave. for it to qualify as a quiet zone.

He said it is too early to tell if those areas will be designated for quiet zones, but that the tracks on N. Roosevelt and Eighth Ave. N.W. will likely be a quiet zone.