Biloxi to repair railroad crossing where tour bus, train collided in 2017

Biloxi is getting ready to fix two railroad crossings — including the Main Street crossing where a train collided with a tour bus in 2017.

The project, which is expected to take two months, will cost the city about $383,000.

The city, MDOT and CSX have partnered to raise the incline at the Main Street railroad crossing on both sides to help prevent future accidents. The tour bus became stuck at the railroad crossing in 2017 because the incline was too steep for the bus to cross.

The road work will begin Monday. Travelers are encouraged to use Esters Boulevard to get to an open crossing.

The closing may be inconvenient since it’s a main road, but the city says its prioritizing this work for everyone’s safety.

“Buses, tour buses, trucks… people that are coming in from out of town in those vehicles, their GPS may drive them right up this road, and the next thing you know, they’re stuck on the tracks,” said city spokesman John Majure. “It’s not an easy or quick task to get them off of the tracks, and as you know, CSX is a very busy rail line that runs right through the middle of our town.

“So, having this taken care of will allow people to get across the crossing without having that issue of a low clearance.”

Majure said the crossing at Holley Street also will be updated. The work at Holley should being Tuesday or Wednesday and take about two weeks to complete.