Cars drive around stuck railroad gates at crossings in Riverside, Berwyn along Metra BNSF Line

ByABC 7 Chicago Digital Team WLS logo
Thursday, November 19, 2020
Cars drive around downed railroad gates in Riverside, Berwyn
Chopper 7HD flew above Riverside and Berwyn, where cars were seen driving around downed gates at railroad crossings.

RIVERSIDE, Ill. (WLS) -- Railroad gates were stuck in the down position in west suburban Riverside and Berwyn have led to traffic backups Thursday morning.

The gates are along the Burlington Northern and Metra BNSF tracks at Harlem and five crossings east of Harlem. The gates were fixed by around 8 a.m., Berwyn police said.

Metra trains were going through the area at a reduced rate of speed. Metra did not report any delays.

Chopper 7HD flew above the closures Thursday morning, and several drivers were seen going around the downed gates. Motorists are advised that this is dangerous as trains are still running on the tracks.

While the gates were stuck, drivers had to go west to First Avenue or east to Austin in order to cross safely.