Railroad crossing bars down on Leavesley Road

UPDATE: The railroad crossing was repaired by Union Pacific Railroad crew by 5:15 Tuesday afternoon. Traffic was blocked for a total of two hours, according to Gilroy Police. 

The railroad track crossing bars are down and blocking traffic at the intersection of Monterey Street and Leavesley Road.

Traffic has been blocked for at least 45 minutes, according to a woman who called the Dispatch to report the problem. 

Police Sgt. Pedro Espinoza said the traffic is backed up to Murray Avenue on the eastbound side, and Church Street on the westbound side – less than a quarter of a mile.

Union Pacific Railroad has not given Gilroy Police a time estimate of when the crossing bars might be fixed, but that they have been made aware of the problem, Espinoza said. 

Espinoza said there are no GPD officers directing traffic near the intersection. Drivers can cross the tracks at any of the other crossing points in Gilroy, which are currently clear. 

Drivers stuck on the east side of the tracks can detour down Murray Avenue to IOOF Avenue, and drivers on the west side can travel southbound to First Street to cross the tracks.