Surface is made of precast concrete panels

8-foot

in length along the length of the track.

Composite material may be used in lieu of concrete in areas of significant truck traffic where material will not degrade in climate conditions.

Asphalt may be used in lieu of concrete, particularly for temporary crossings during construction.

Timber crossing

is no longer reimbursable under the replanking program

.

Panels are bolted directly into the railroad ties beneath.

Panels installed between the rails are referred to as gauge panels while panels between the rails and the roadway surface are referred to as field panels.

Rubber flangeways are installed between rails and concrete panels to prevent electrical shorting of the rails.

A drainage pipe may be installed parallel to the rail on either or both sides of the rail.

When replacing panels, the railroad company typically replaces the subballast, ballast, ties, and rail at the crossing and beyond roadway edges.

Track panels are typically assembled in

80-foot

preassembled sections which include rail and ties bolted together (without crossing surface panels).

Existing track is cut and removed, and new track panel is jointed (bolted) to existing rail.

New track panel is welded to existing track after the crossing surface panels are installed.

The railroad company uses tamping machine to install and adjust ballast.

Surfaces may take a few days or weeks to settle after train and truck traffic use the crossing.

Adjustment of roadway elevation may be needed after the crossing surface settles; this is typically done by adding asphalt level-up near the crossing surface.