Arlington Heights police received a report about 3:00 AM Monday of malfunctioning Union Pacific railroad gates at Arlington Heights Road and Northwest Highway Arlington Heights, IL. Train gates in downtown Arlington Heights were stuck in the down position again in downtown Arlington Heights early Monday morning, January 27, 2014. Recently the gates have been stuck in the down position in downtown Arlington Heights on Saturday, January 4, 2014 and Friday, January 20, 2014.
A tanker truck that transports gasoline was stuck blocking all eastbound lanes of Northwest Highway when malfunctioning railroad gates rose and motorists hurried to make up for lost time on southbound Arlington Heights Road.
The train gates are a subject of concern for at least some residents who must endure loud train horns in the middle of the night as trains pass through with train horns blasting while the gates are malfunctioning.
Motorist often sit for several minutes before they realize that no train is coming. Some go around the gates, and some eventually look for another way to get from one side of town to the other.
When the stuck gates occur, risks of accidents increase.
Frequent train gate malfunctions cause police work to be hampered by delays getting across town, or by police work time resources on assignments related to re-routing downtown traffic.
Metra/Union Pacific railroad gates were stuck in the down position about 3:30 a.m. Monday, January 27, 2014 at Arlington Heights Road and Evergreen Avenue. The railroad gates have malfunctioned numerous times in near-zero weather in recent weeks.
The gates may be more likely to malfunction in near zero weather, but the malfunctions occur in all types of weather conditions and temperatures.
Train horns at 1:00 AM: Malfunctioning train gates go back to December 10, 2011 when trains blasted their horns at all hours until the gates were repaired.
Current Conditions at O’Hare International Airport (2:51 a.m. Jan 27 2014)
A Few Clouds
2°F
-17°C
Humidity 57%
Wind Speed NW 20 G 30 mph
Barometer 29.96 in (1015.6 mb)
Dewpoint -10°F (-23°C)
Visibility 10.00 mi
Wind Chill -19°F (-28°C)
Last Update on 27 Jan 2:51 am CST
LIVE TRAFFIC MAP near Arlington Heights Road and Northwest Highway …
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