Norwich bulletin., 1922-07-18
EoULD ELIMINATE STATES
 WORST GRADE cRossrN

WORST GRADE CROSSINGS
 The public utilities commission has. approached the state highway deuart- meilt with q request for co-operation in the elimination or reduction of the dan- ger to yehicular traffic and pedestrians at several grade crossings in different parts of. the state. It is believed likely that a movement, started at conference between Commissioner c. C. ElweI and the engineers of the utilities commits sion and Highway ComTn.ssioner Ben nett will result in orders to the rail- Toad to bridge the worst death traps now existing in Connecticut.
 At Commissioner Elwell's request Commissioner Bennett named the fol-, lowing as the most dangerous grade crossings in state highways, to- which he recommended thats attention be di- Hected without delay:
 At Clayton-At a point in road from Newington to New Britain intersected by Highland division of railroad. At Beckley Quarter Berlin-At point in Berlin turnpike intersected by cleo tric division of railroad from Berlin to Middletown.
 At Old. Saybrook-At point in the state highway from New Haven to New London and Saybrook to Hartford n- tersected by Shore line of the New Ha- ven road.
 Important state. highways throughout Connecticut are intersected by 60 grade crossings. which are considered to be dangerous, according to Commissioner Bennett. He agreed at Commissioner Elwell's request to prepare a list of these crossings, naming them in the order oi the degree of danger to vehicles and l pedestrians.
 In the face of an appalling increase l in the number of grade crossing acci- dents in this, state, the railroad com pany has been practically powerless to l live up to the statute which requires it l to eliminate one grade crossing each i year for each 50 miles of railroad lines i Owing to the financial condition of the railroad. and the complications arising from the federal control, it has beer useless for the public utilities commis- i sion to order the railroad to live up tc this law which would mean the elimi- nation of about Is crossings a year al an annual cost of over $1,000.10o.
 It was understood from an interview with Chairman ARichard T. Higgins that the public utilities commission and the l highway department would confer witf ] officials of the railroads operating ir Connecticut after the two state depart ments had finished compiling necessary data.
 i The New Haven road is not yet ou; i of It's financial difficulties, and, in view of this fact it is doubtful whether any wholesale elimination of grade crossings will be ordered. However, it is likely :; that the bridging of the three ,wors ones may be asked and that steps will be taken to improve the sight line and oth- erwise reduce the danger at other bat i crossings.
 l The highway department figures tha l it can effect considerable savings to tn
 railroads at places where bridges ar, contemplated. at some time. by chang | ing the plans for the approaches to rail road tracks on the new highways undsl construction or about to be started. There have been scores of fatalitie. within the past few. years at the thre, crossings named by Commissioner Ben
 nett as the worst in the, State.