Route 159 rail crossing in Suffield to close about 48 hours Oct. 21-22, with detour via Routes 190, 91 and 140

SUFFIELD - The railroad crossing on Route 159 (East Street) in Suffield will close to all vehicle and pedestrian traffic for about 48 hours on Oct. 21-22 while it is replaced, the Connecticut Department of Transportation announced Oct. 13.

A posted detour will send traffic around the work zone using Routes 190, 91 and 140, according to the department. Homes and businesses along Route 159 will remain reachable, and drivers are asked to use caution on the detour and allow extra travel time.

"For the protection of crews and the public, the crossing will be temporarily closed to all traffic," said Jeffrey Gonneville, CTDOT bureau chief of public transportation.

The Connecticut Southern Railroad, which owns and operates the line, is paying for the work and carrying it out with its contractor, in coordination with CTDOT, the town, first responders and transit providers. The department said extreme weather could change the schedule. Questions go to the CTDOT Customer Care Center at (860) 594-2560.

Source: Connecticut Department of Transportation, "Railroad Crossing Safety Improvement Project on Route 159 (East Street) in Suffield to begin October 21, 2026," Oct. 13, 2026, https://portal.ct.gov/dot/ctdot-press-releases/2026/railroad-crossing-safety-improvement-project-on-route-159-in-suffield-october-2026

How this story was made: AI tools helped research and draft this story, working from the sources cited and linked above. It was fact-checked against those sources, and our editor, Joshua Allen, reviewed and approved it before publication. See an error? Email upriverdaily@gmail.com.