In 2000, highways in the U.S. had more than 250,000 roadway-rail crossings, according to the Federal Railroad Administration. As urban growth continues and more roads are built, this number will likely rise. Unless trains are rerouted, the building of new roads can delay rail traffic and movement of commercial goods. Once a road is complete, trains passing through the crossing can interrupt vehicle traffic, closing the new road for minutes at a time. These delays and interruptions cause congestion and air pollution, frustrating motorists, railroad workers, and train travelers alike. This article provides an overview of an innovative tunneling method used in Russia that could end these frustrations by employing soft-earth tunneling techniques to run a highway beneath a train track. The technique effectively negates the problems caused by the roadway-rail crossing points.
Abstract