State grant to improve Benton County rail crossing

State regulators approved a $20,000 grant for safety upgrades at a rail crossing in Benton County.

The Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission approved the grant at the request of the Central Washington Railroad.

CWR plans to upgrade outdated train motion detection sensors at the intersection of Gap Road and CWR’s track in Benton County.

The improvements will improve safety by reliably warning pedestrians and motorists of approaching trains, according to a release.

An average of 1,422 vehicles use the crossing daily, including 12 school buses. Currently, two freight trains traveling 25 miles per hour use the crossing each day.

The upgrades must be completed by March 1, 2017. CWR will cover any additional costs associated with the project.

This story was originally published February 4, 2016 at 7:19 PM with the headline "State grant to improve Benton County rail crossing."