Wells Police will be stationed at grade level crossings on Burnt Mill Road and Bragdon Road on Tuesday, to raise awareness and enforcement of railroad crossing and trespass laws as part of Operation Clear Track. LIZ GOTTHELF/Journal Tribune file photo

WELLS – Motorists traveling Burnt Mill Road or Bragdon Road on Tuesday in Wells will be seeing police officers stationed near the grade level railroad crossings.

The officers will be there handing out information on railroad safety as part of Operation Clear Track, an initiative designed to raise awareness and enforce state railroad crossing and trespassing laws.

Wells Police are joining with Amtrak Police and Operation Lifesaver, the nonprofit rail safety organization, to conduct the awareness event, which takes place nationwide throughout the week.

In all, 600 law enforcement agencies in 48 states will take part in the program, which is billed as the single largest rail safety law enforcement initiative in the country.

“Police will be advising motorists not to attempt outrun the railroad crossing arms – or try to go between them,” said Wells Police Capt. Gerald Congdon. And walkers should never venture onto railroad tracks – wherever they’re located. “I’ve seen hunters on the tracks,” said Congdon.

Both grade level crossings are on busy roads. Congdon pointed out that traffic can be heavy on Bragdon Road and commuters tend to use Burnt Mill as a short cut between Route 109 and Route 1.

According to Operation Lifesaver, about every three hours, a person or a vehicle in the U.S. is hit by a train.

Officers will be stationed at Burnt Mill Road railroad crossing from 8 a.m. to noon on Tuesday, and from noon to 4 p.m. on Bragdon Road.

— Senior Staff Writer Tammy Wells can be contacted at 780-9016 or twells@journaltribune.com.

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