Smiths Falls officials are trying to determine who is responsible for a more than century-old railway underpass on Chambers Street, after concerns were raised about deteriorating concrete.
CAO Malcolm Morris told council the town has been working with Canadian Pacific Kansas City Railway since the spring.
CPKC crews inspected the crossing earlier this year, and have no safety concerns.
Morris says the town’s priority is safety, particularly the possibility of concrete falling onto vehicles or pedestrians.
CPKC crews did remove loose sections of concrete from the approaches and underneath the bridge during their inspection.
The bigger question is who owns and maintains the various parts of the crossing.
Historical records, dug up by Hometown News, show the Chambers Street underpass was ordered in 1913, with construction costs divided between the railway, Smiths Falls, Montague Township and a railway grade-crossing fund. Later records also assigned different maintenance responsibilities to the railway and road authorities.
Morris says the town is working to clarify those responsibilities.
The town says it will continue working with CPKC while investigating the century-old paper trail.
