26th Ave. crossing to shut down July 8

I can't believe the city is allowing this!!! It should have to be put on hold until the viaduct is re-opened. Why don't we have a say in it? I'ts hard enough for those of us that live on the south side of the tracks to get to and from now! I am not looking forward to this closing, nor do i have an extra 45 minutes every morning and evening to acoomodate this monstrosity!

It's funny how you and a lot of other people blame the rail road. The weak leadership at the council chambers and ultimately the people of Columbus have no one but themselves to blame for this situation. This issue was foreseen years ago and no action was taken. If you want someone to blame, blame yourself.

Wonderful. It's bad enough that there are only two crossings in the downtown area. Now there will only be one. I can about guarantee that I will be late for work every day until it's open again. I'm already leaving my house 10-15 minutes earlier than I used to when the viaduct was open and it's still a crap shoot if I can get there on time. This is ridiculous!
Why can't they wait until the viaduct is open or open one of the crossings that they closed?

F U.P.

With only one crossing opened downtown, is Columbus still open for business, what a joke.

What issue was foreseen years ago? When were we alerted that crossings would be permanently closed, other crossings would be temporarily closed, and the viaduct would be suddenly declared unsafe, all in the same period? Be specific.

@Ouija Board: All of the above. The crossing maintenance and closings have been listed on the city's website for at least a year. Google searches of the viaduct having to be torn down and rebuilt shows up in city council minutes since at least 2005. Not too mention the citywide vote for a new downtown viaduct which was rejected a few years back. It was in all the newspapers. Or were you to apathetic and ignorant to what's going on in your community until it directly inconveniences you?

@Fuming: You did have a say in it, you (as in the citizens of Columbus) rejected and voted nay to another viaduct crossing in the city-wide vote a few years back. Or did you not even bother to get out and vote at all?

I do blame the city leaders for this, mostly for being weak. The decision was made to let the people vote and of course it brought out the special interest groups on a rally. Fearful they would lose money in the downtown. I would love to know if the downtown businesses are successful right now. I for one would not stop there after waiting constantly to get across and having no choice since I live on the southside. Many are not affected but it is a daily struggle for those on the south.

I do give some kudos to the construction workers at the viaduct site, they are working their tails off. When I go by the railroad workers however, it is a way different story. One person working and at least ten watching. I think the incentive pay works.

Let us learn from this mistake in the future!

I was worried how this would affect business on the south side. Last week we ate at Godfather's and there was not one single table left. Last night we tried to go to Dairy Queen at 9pm and there was not one parking spot available. As much of a pain as this mess is, I'm glad those businesses are still doing well.

Cool 1 more reason to avoid the south side of town.

So why hasn't the 25th Ave crossing reopened yet? This would relieve some of the added traffic pressure about to come July 8th. The city's own website indicates 25th was to reopen before work on 26th began.

Anyone with the city or UP care to address that? 25th has been
"temporarily" closed for months. Or did 25th join the ranks of permanently closed crossings?

It is the people who voted against this time and time again who are to blame. We moved here a few year ago and were hearing back then about getting a new viaduct. This is what putting things off gets you. It is unfair to blame the railroad, it was here first. It is unfair to blame the railroad workers, as they do what they are told, just as you and I do. Remember consequences? For every action there is a consequence as well for any inaction.

What good would the new viaduct have been? That crossing is still open. We still would have had to drive to the other side of town to cross.

The fact is, the &%*$# railroad could delay some of these closures until the viaduct is built. Common sense should be renamed makes no sense.

What good would a 23rd Ave viaduct have been? Gee, let me think....

Oh, yeah. Traffic wouldn't have to wait for trains to go through town. Traffic flow would be increased and the hardship on the commuters would have been lessened.

The cities own website flat out LIED to people.

http://www.columbusne.us/viaduct/index.htm

It says:
"For a short period this spring 25th Avenue will be closed for improvements, and after it reopens, 26th Avenue will close for improvements."

So stick with your promises city. Work on 26th ave AFTER you have opened 25th like you said you would.

Common Sense, because I am apathetic and ignorant, please answer these questions.

I asked before, where were we alerted years ago that all this would happen at the same time? Again, try to be specific. Google those City Minutes back to 2005, and give us the link.

Oh, but there's a problem with that. Exact quotes from the City Minutes cannot be Googled, much less generalities, so why did you make that part up?

Well Phreak. Just goes to show, you can't trust everything you read on the internet.

Now that the railroad "owns" the downtown from 23rd Avenue west, they should have plenty of room to switch trains without blocking 23rd, 18th, and 12th Avenues.

The Columbus Police should be as ruthless with the U.P. blocking tracks as they are with trucks going down 8th street. A half dozen tickets written to the engineers should put them on notice that "business as usual" is over for them. Mayor Mike has to man up on this one...