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Trails crossing under active railroad lines and bridges

Crossing a railroad can be a difficult challenges for trail builders. Fears of liability plus the fact that the railroads generally own their right-of-way add to the problem. However, In practical terms, crossing under railroad tracks is similar to crossing under a highway. In fact, engineering a crossing under one or two tracks is much easier than going under a six- or eight-lane freeway. In a riverside situation, the corridor generally allows enough room for the greenway trail to go under the bridge approaches. In most cases some degree of separation— fencing or other barriers— is provided to keep trail users off the tracks. The following examples of trail underpasses come from several parts of the country:

Click on any photo to see it full size:

(Commentary and photos by Stuart Macdonald, September 2009)

Clear Creek Trail crossing under Burlington Northern Railroad embankment, Jefferson County, CO; photo by Stuart Macdonald, August 1, 2009.

Clear Creek Trail parallels the fenced Burlington Northern rail line and jogs to cross under it, Jefferson County, CO; photo by Stuart Macdonald, August 1, 2009.

Clear Creek Trail crossing under BN RR's Beer Line which serves the nearby Coors Brewery in Golden, Colorado; photo by Stuart Macdonald, August 1, 2009.

Trail on banks of Mississippi River crosses under railroad bridge in Rock Island, IL; photo by Stuart Macdonald, Nov. 19, 2006.

Mississippi River Trail crosses under active railroad line in Rock Island, IL; photo by Stuart Macdonald, Nov. 19, 2006.

Mississippi River Trail crosses under railroad tracks in Rock Island, IL; photo by Stuart Macdonald, Nov. 19, 2006.

Trail descends from river levee to cross under rail line in Rock Island, IL; photo by Stuart Macdonald, Nov. 19, 2006.

Trail has just enough room to get under railroad girder bridge with fencing next to water, Rock Island, IL; photo by Stuart Macdonald, Nov. 19, 2006.

Trail descends from river levee to cross under rail line in Rock Island, IL; photo by Stuart Macdonald, Nov. 19, 2006.

Sand Creek Trail in Commerce City, CO crosses under railroad bridge; metal wall on left is flood control structure; photo by Stuart Macdonald, Nov. 24, 2006.

Railroad bridge crosses over trail along South Platte River, Denver, CO; photo by Stuart Macdonald, November 24, 2006

Railroad bridge crosses over trail and Platte River, Denver, CO; no barriers prevent you from climbing bank up to tracks; photo by Stuart Macdonald, November 24, 2006

Railroad bridge crosses over Platte River Greenway, Denver, CO; photo by Stuart Macdonald, November 24, 2006.

Sand Creek Trail is temporarily closed where it crosses under major rail line in Commerce City, CO with metal structure as trail approaches trestle; photo by Stuart Macdonald, Nov. 24, 2006.

Metal cover over trail where it crosses under railroad bridge; Sand Creek Trail in Commerce City, CO; photo by Stuart Macdonald, Nov. 24, 2006.

Trail along Red River in Fargo, ND crosses under BNSF Railroad with metal cover to protect trail users; photo by Stuart Macdonald, Sept. 5, 2007.

East Grand Forks National Recreation Trail along the Red River, the boundary between ND and MN; photo by Stuart Macdonald, September 6, 2007

Chain link mesh protects trail users, East Grand Forks National Recreation Trail, MN; photo by Stuart Macdonald, September 6, 2007.

Rail bridge crosses over greenway trail and then over Red River, r East Grand Forks, MN; photo by Stuart Macdonald, September 6, 2007.