By 1808Delaware
Motorists traveling Seldom Seen Road should notice a smoother trip now that improvements to the railroad crossing have been completed and the road has reopened. The City of Powell worked with CSX to replace the railroad tracks and ties, install an upgraded rubberized crossing surface and resurface the roadway around the crossing. The work is intended to improve both safety and driving conditions along the well-traveled route. The completed project represents another step in a broader effort to upgrade every at-grade railroad crossing within the city.
Building on Earlier Improvements
Seldom Seen Road is the second Powell crossing upgraded through the city’s partnership with CSX during the past two years. The first was the State Route 750 crossing, where improvements were completed in late 2024 at a cost of $267,327.
Powell spent $303,308 on the Seldom Seen Road improvements. That total includes approximately $25,000 for the installation of a rectangular rapid flashing beacon pedestrian crossing in 2025. The beacons use rapidly flashing lights to alert motorists when pedestrians are entering a marked crossing, adding another layer of protection near the railroad tracks.
South Liberty Street Is Next
Planning is already underway for an upgrade at the South Liberty Street railroad crossing. The city has committed $98,678 for the project’s design and included $750,000 for construction in its 2026 Capital Improvement Plan. Construction is tentatively expected to begin in 2027.
In addition to improvements for motorists, the project will include a pedestrian safety upgrade at the crossing.
Once the South Liberty Street work is completed, every at-grade railroad crossing located within the City of Powell will have been upgraded.
Work Extends Beyond the City
Crossing improvements are also planned nearby in Liberty Township. The township is partnering with CSX on similar work at the Jewett Road intersection crossing, with construction expected later this year.
Together, the projects reflect a continuing effort by Powell, Liberty Township and CSX to improve the condition of railroad crossings while making them safer for drivers and pedestrians. For motorists returning to Seldom Seen Road, however, the most immediate result is also the simplest: a smoother ride across the tracks.
