NEW IBERIA, La. (KLFY) – New railroad crossing signals may be coming to New Iberia.
 
Councilman for District 3, David Broussard is always looking to get more ‘grade crossing signals’ in the city.
He says they’ve finally secured more funding, to bring the signals to more busy interesections in the future.
 
When you hear the sound made by a grade crossing signal, you know a train is coming.
 
At the Ann Street and Bank Avenue crossings, BNSF Railway Company is conducting maintenance repairs.
 
“We call them up and ask them to come down and do regular maintenance, so they don’t beat up all our vehicles,” said Broussard.
 
Those 2 intersections already have grade signal crossings, to prevent drivers from entering the intersection when a train is coming.
However, some other crossings in the city do not.
 
“Safety, safety, safety for everybody. No arms or lights. That’s what we’re looking for at every crossing,” said Broussard.
 
At the Weeks Street intersection, there are no grade crossing signals.
And that’s the same at 3 more intersections just down the same road, in the middle of the city.
 
“I try to look both ways but I’ve seen myself cross without looking,” said Jory Bourque, who works near the Weeks St. crossing.
 
He says about 10 years ago, he witnessed a car get hit by a train due to the no crossing signals.
 
“I really did see a truck get hit. The train was coming, he was blowing the horn, and his music was loud. When he (train) hit him he drug him, he hit him by the court house actually, but he drug him a far ways,” said Bourque.
 
“I mean you see the one your at. I know I crossed one down about 4 roads over to get to one of these little Pokemon games I’m doing, so it’s something they need to address,” said Walt Johnson.
 
A pair of the grade crossing signals (for an intersectionO) cost roughly $200,000 according to Broussard.
 
He says the city has finally received more funding, to bring more signals to various intersections.
“$3 million, the State has dedicated to put these up, so the safety of New Iberia is going to be all done, once they all up,” said Broussard.
 
He says DOTD officials will be at the City Council Meeting in the next 2 or 3 months, to let the Council know when the added crossings will exactly be put in place.
However, it still could be a little bit down the road though.
 
The maintenance work at the 2 intersections on Ann Street and Bank Avenue should be completed by Wednesday morning.