All signs point to a major traffic challenge for Arlington drivers next month when a Union Pacific track renewal project makes its way east from Fort Worth to Dallas. Drivers will be dealing with unprecedented detours and road closures in January for approximately eight days. The rail improvement project requires the simultaneous closure of four to five railroad crossings in Arlington for several days at a time. The project is expected to begin in Fort Worth on January 1 and UP estimates the track renewal project should reach Arlington around January 16 and last roughly eight days.

The project, called TRT 909 is replacing rail and installing concrete ties on a 13 mile stretch of rail which runs parallel to Division. It will move across the city at rate of about two miles per day, in four phases, greatly impacting north and southbound traffic.

Initially, it will require the simultaneous closure of the following crossings for approximately four to five days: Bowen Road, Davis Street, Cooper Street, Center Street and Mesquite Street. As the project moves eastward, one road should open as another is closed.

Traffic engineers with the City of Arlington installed digital message boards late last week across town in order give drivers plenty of time to plan alternate routes. According to Public Works Director Keith Melton, " Given the amount of traffic we expect, Arlington drivers will need to allow extra time for their daily commutes and should consider Loop 820 to the west and Highway 161 to the east as good options for traveling north and south during this project.'

The 250 man crew will work 12 hour days to complete the project during the estimated time span, between the hours of 6am and 6pm. However, the railroad crossings will remain closed 24 hours a day during all phases of the track renewal. The crossings will be closed to pedestrian traffic as well.

For the latest information on the UP track renewal project and updated maps of the roadways as they are closed, follow us on Twitter @CityOfArlington #TrackRenewal, sign up for email updates at MyArlingtonTx.com or visit www.MyArlingtonTx.com/UP.