CHRISTIAN COUNTY, KY (CHRISTIAN COUNTY NOW) – Todd County Emergency Management has provided an update regarding cleanup operations and traffic impacts following the CSX train derailment near U.S. 41. KYTC District 3 says the road will remain closed between the City of Trenton in Todd County and the City of Pembroke in Christian County through the weekend.
On Dec. 30 just before 7 a.m., a CSX train derailed 31 rail cars near Trenton Tress Shop Road and Dixie Bee Line Highway in Trenton by the Christian County boundary. When the derailment occurred, one rail car containing molten sulfur was breached and lost a small amount of its contents. According to TCEM, the timeline for reopening U.S. 41 is being directly affected by landfill operating hours and closures.
CSX has advised that the primary landfill previously used for non-hazardous debris disposal is closed through the weekend, and alternate disposal locations are requiring significantly longer transport times. These limitations have slowed the removal of non-hazardous debris from the site and surrounding roadway.
CSX has now secured an additional landfill, which will open and operate through the weekend. With this disposal option in place, debris-hauling operations will continue throughout the weekend to take full advantage of landfill availability, says a news release from TCEM.
Significant dirt and mud have been ground into the roadway surface as a result of emergency response and cleanup operations. Final steps before reopening will include mechanical sweeping and roadway washing to ensure safe driving conditions. Officials are currently targeting a Monday reopening of the road.
CSX crews worked through the night immediately following the wreck, removing the cars involved by using side booms and excavators. Repairs to the track were also completed to allow rail traffic to commence through the area. The rail line reopened at approximately 8 a.m. on Dec. 31.
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