State to Close Railroad Crossings? (September, 2005)

CN Withdraws Petitions
OCR Dismisses Closure Petitions
OCR Issues Final Decision



Old Hwy 18 and Smokey Road Crossing Closure Petitions

The Wisconsin Central Ltd. (WCL), a subsidiary of Canadian National railroad, has petitioned the State of Wisconsin to close the at-grade rail crossing at Old Highway 18 (OH18) and Burbank Road, as well as the grade-separated crossing at Smokey Road and US Hwy 10, both east of Stevens Point in the Town of Stockton. The following information relates to these proposed closings, and a report of the Heartland Club's work to prepare for the hearing before the Wisconsin Office of the Commissioner of Railroads (OCR).

Old Highway 18 Information Smokey Road Information



Final Decision

Old Highway 18:
Will a favorite bicycling route to the east close?


Old Highway 18 Road runs straight east from Stevens Point at US Hwy 10 approximately 5 miles to Custer Road. About three miles east of Stevens Point, at the Burbank Road intersection, OH18 crosses the WCL railroad tracks. This is a dangerous crossing with no gates or lights, only stop signs. However, many bicyclists use OH18 and this crossing as a vital access to and from routes east of Steven Point. If this crossing closes and OH18 terminates there, it will cut off bicyclists going east of town, leaving the only remaining safe routes at Rainbow/9th Street (1.5 miles north) and Porter Road (2 miles south).
RR Grade Crossing:
Old Highway 18
at Burbank Road

Media Coverage


  1. Original Information Sheet
  2. Heartland Meetings
  3. Contact List
  4. Sample Support Letter
  5. Sample Board Resolution
  6. Photos of Crossing
Supplemental Materials:
      OCR Case File (Docket 9164-RX-682)
      Engineering Studies and Reports
      Technical Manuals and Documents
      Data Sheets and Statical Summaries
      Planning and Development Manuals
      Letters of Position and Support
      Recent Relative Cases
      Hearing Materials and Exhibits
      Links to Important Websites
      Questions & Answers

If you have any questions, concerns, suggesting, or would like to get involved, please contact:
Jack Friess, Team Leader
OH18/Smokey Defense Team
1917 College Avenue
Stevens Point, WI 54481
715-340-3132
jack@heartlandclub.org


Updated 4/14/17





Smokey Road:
Will a potential north-south bicycling route close?


Smokey Road, located about 7 miles east of Stevens Point, runs north and south from 4th Street to US Highway 10. This tree-lined, rural road is a favorite biking route for local cyclists, generally south of Old Highway 18, past Lake Thomas Road to the Smokey Spur at 4th Street. Since the one-mile section of Smokey Road north of Old Highway 18 terminates at US Hwy 10, a four-lane, high-speed, high-volume highway, most cyclists avoid riding that section, which includes the vehicle underpass at the WCL railroad tracks just south of the intersection. However, with future plans to create a Hwy 10 by-pass and the resulting lessening of traffic on the existing Hwy 10 (probably to become a county road), there is great potential for bicyclists to use this north-south route to "hook up" with other great cycling roads (like QQ, Ridge Road, and Rolling Hills Road) to the north. If this rail trestle is removed and Smokey Road terminated, it will not only mean huge inconveniences for local residents, but will cut off bicyclists wanting to go north of Old Hwy 18 in this area.
Grade-Separated Crossing:
Smokey Road
at US Highway 10

Media Coverage


  1. Original Information Sheet
  2. Contact List
  3. Sample Board Resolution
  4. Photos of Crossing
Supplemental Materials:
      OCR Case File (Docket 9164-RX-682)
      Engineering Studies and Reports
      Recent Relative Cases
      Hearing Materials and Exhibits

If you have any questions, concerns, suggesting, or would like to get involved, please contact:
Jack Friess, Team Leader
OH18/Smokey Defense Team
1917 College Avenue
Stevens Point, WI 54481
715-340-3132
jack@heartlandclub.org


Updated 6/12/09