By NEAL WAGNER / Managing Editor

ALABASTER – Alabaster leaders are encouraging those driving in Alabaster this weekend to plan for extra travel time, as the CSX railroad company is closing a heavily used railroad crossing from April 23-24.

CSX is closing and repairing the railroad crossing on Alabama 119 near Thompson Intermediate School throughout the weekend. The company will close the crossing beginning at 7 a.m. on Saturday, April 23, and will reopen it on Sunday night, April 24, according to a post on the city’s website.

“Please follow these Facebook and Twitter social media accounts (Alabaster City Hall, Alabaster Police Department, Alabaster Fire Department) or the city website (Cityofalabaster.com) for updates should the schedule change,” read the post.

Because Alabama 119 is a heavily traveled roadway, the city will post detour signs throughout the city.

The primary bypass roads will be Fulton Springs Road and Thompson Road, and 18-wheelers and large vehicles will be required to use Fulton Springs Road as a bypass.

“Emergency services have been notified.  Please plan for extra travel time,” read the post. “Our patrol officers will be present in many intersections assisting with general traffic flow to the best of their ability.”

Below is a diagram highlighting the primary detour routes in yellow (Click for full-size image):