S.R. railroad crossing will get major upgrade SOUTH RIVER - A deteriorated railroad crossing just south of the Wawa convenience store on Willett Avenue will be getting a much-needed upgrade next month. The state Department of Transportation (DOT) is working with Conrail to repair the railroad tracks and a rundown portion of Willett Avenue just south of Division Street. Construction will last two days, beginning at 7 a.m. on Nov. 7 and wrapping up the evening of Nov. 8, weather permitting. Willett Avenue will be closed to all traffic during this time period. Detour routes will be provided and posted. The work will be done during a week when South River students are off from school. "We are extremely pleased that the state Department of Transportation and Conrail have agreed to improve such an important railroad/highway grade crossing," Mayor Robert P. Szegeti said in a press release. "The upgrades, which are being done at no expense to borough taxpayers, will allow for a much smoother ride for motorists and a much safer passage for pedestrians and students walking to and from school." While the project is being administered by the DOT, Conrail has hired JMG Excavating and Construction Inc., of Pottsville, Pa., to perform the construction. The detour routes were designed by AmerCom Corp., a Parsippany-based consulting engineering firm. The project will be funded by the state through money received from the Federal Railroad Administration. The existing railroad tracks will be replaced with a state-of-the-art grade crossing treatment system called StarTrack. The system reportedly has numerous advantages over conventional crossings, including simplicity, no cross ties, permanence and abrasion resistance, easy installation and rubber filler inserts for cushioning. Workers will repave a portion of Willett Avenue, approximately 30 feet to either side of the railroad tracks, and the surrounding sidewalks, which will be made to accommodate people with disabilities.