The Jasper County Board of Supervisors have approved agreements with Iowa Interstate Railroad and the Iowa Department of Transportation for the closure and removal of the South 28th Avenue West railroad crossing by County Highway F-48 West, west of Colfax. The removal of the crossing is related to phase three of the Highway F-48 West resurfacing from Newton to the Polk County line. Jasper County Engineer Mike Frietsch received unanimous approval of the agreements from the County Supervisors Tuesday.

“This basically sets the timeline for us to go through and obliterate the roads on both sides of the crossing. It also sets the timeline for us to vacate the right of way, and sets us to receive $15,000 from the railroad to help compensate for our expenses.”

The crossing is to be removed within six months. The resurfacing of Jasper County Highway F-48 West from Colfax to the Polk County line is to begin next year. Frietsch has said the county expects to get $2 million in federal funding for the project through the Surface Transportation Block Grant Program.