Driving around in Chester has been a headache this week, and by next week it could get even worse.

CSX railroad is tearing up railroad crossings across Chester County. The company tells Channel 9 it's part of a much large project to repair old crossings around the Carolinas.

Ed Darby, with Chester County Emergency Management, would have liked a heads up from CSX before the roads started closing.

"It's a real challenge to Emergency Services to be able to plan responses," Darby said.

His office as well as EMS and fire departments are concerned about being able to respond to an emergency quickly. Several of the most traveled roads in town are blocked by work on the tracks.

CSX spokeswoman Carla Groleau said the company tries to give local emergency officials as much notice as possible.

"We do our best because they need to know, but sometimes these plans are fluid and change. We do try to work with them," she said.

As of late Friday, three major roads around the city were blocked. McCandless Road out near Chester Middle School has been shut down all week. There are detour signs in place letting drivers know the road is closed.

However, two major roads in town are also blocked, and Channel 9 found no signs there.

Both Saluda Street and York Road are major arteries into downtown Chester. Both roads are blocked and tall piles of dirt and broken asphalt are stacked in the middle of the road.

Channel 9 watched as several drivers turned around in frustration after approaching the tracks, not realizing the road was closed.

"There are no detour signs back there to let you know that you can't come this way," said Susan Ferrell. "It's aggravating because you have to make so many trips. You have to go around town."

On Thursday, Chester County emergency officials, the Highway Patrol and Department of Transportation met with CSX to try and get a handle on what impact they could be facing.

Darby said next week the railroad plans to shut down the J.A. Cochran Bypass at Highway 72.

That week-long closure could cause major backups and detour large trucks through residential neighborhoods. State DOT officials are asking CSX to consider closing half of the crossing at a time to allow traffic to pass.

It's not known yet if that will happen.

Mike Layton owns a small fishing supply shop right at the tracks on the bypass. He's not looking forward to next week.
"It'll be interesting to see what it does to my business, and to traffic," he said.

CSX told Channel 9 it should finish the major work in the city of Chester by late next week.

However, expected rain could delay the work and keep several intersections closed for a longer period of time.

Darby said Emergency Services may move some rescue vehicles to other key areas around the city so emergency calls won't be hampered by the closures.

Emergency Management Director Eddie Murphy said he was also concerned about large trucks passing through town that could have trouble getting around due to the railroad work.

"We just need to get the word out about this," he said.