Cargo Road Crossing could Close
By: Jackie Smith
Updated: November 22, 2010
An infamous railroad crossing along Cargo Road in Ector County might be shutting down.
After a number of accidents at the crossing, including some that were fatal, Ector County Commissioners recieved a request to have it closed.
Cargo Road is famous for being the place to find adult entertainment at strip clubs like Jaguars.
But over the years many people who leave those establishments risk their lives on the tracks.
The commision has not shut down the crossing quite yet.
The Panetek CEO in the area says the commision needs to think this through because it could devastate how they do business.
Jim Reese relies on these tracks for important business.
"Panetek was put here in 1981 because of access to that highway and we need access to that highway," said, CEO of Panetek, Jim Reese.
He makes and ships materials that go in to electric automotives that ironically is found in railroads all across the United States.
He thinks Panetek should not be punished for irresponsibility.
"I suspect they will see its the drunks that come out of the strip clubs, not our people," said Reese.
Sgt. Hunter Lewis of DPS agrees,.
The real problem, he says, is at night.
"We have lots of calls at this intersection especially weekend, Thursday, Friday, Saturday nights, honestly i don't know if the intersection is the problem but whats on the other side of the intersection," said Lewis.
What's on the other side is Jaguars and Pussy Cat, well known strip clubs in the Odessa area.
He said its usually people that have had to much to drink who get stuck on the tracks.
"You take an intersection that put a train and vehicle that people are 9 times out of 10 will be likely under substance and you remove the train out of the equation that puts it in their favor," said Lewis.
"They could simply enough put arms that would intersect and close off the whole thing completely and do it at night," said Reese.
But if the commission does decide to close the tracks.
Reese says, the 48 families he has hired might be out of a job.
"I hope that Union Pacific will cooperate because we have 48 families probably about 4 or 5 of them live in Midland the rest of them live in Odessa who are dependent on Panetek Industries," said Reese.
Sgt. Lewis told me if it does close up, trucks could take alternative routes.
They could go down loop 338, Trunk road, or Solo road.
He did say this would take longer but those are safer intersections.
However, Reese says those roads are shaky and take longer to get across.
Commissioners have requested more information to ensure that alternatives will be set in place just in case they shut the crossing down.
No word yet on when they will make this decision.
After a number of accidents at the crossing, including some that were fatal, Ector County Commissioners recieved a request to have it closed.
Cargo Road is famous for being the place to find adult entertainment at strip clubs like Jaguars.
But over the years many people who leave those establishments risk their lives on the tracks.
The commision has not shut down the crossing quite yet.
The Panetek CEO in the area says the commision needs to think this through because it could devastate how they do business.
Jim Reese relies on these tracks for important business.
"Panetek was put here in 1981 because of access to that highway and we need access to that highway," said, CEO of Panetek, Jim Reese.
He makes and ships materials that go in to electric automotives that ironically is found in railroads all across the United States.
He thinks Panetek should not be punished for irresponsibility.
"I suspect they will see its the drunks that come out of the strip clubs, not our people," said Reese.
Sgt. Hunter Lewis of DPS agrees,.
The real problem, he says, is at night.
"We have lots of calls at this intersection especially weekend, Thursday, Friday, Saturday nights, honestly i don't know if the intersection is the problem but whats on the other side of the intersection," said Lewis.
What's on the other side is Jaguars and Pussy Cat, well known strip clubs in the Odessa area.
He said its usually people that have had to much to drink who get stuck on the tracks.
"You take an intersection that put a train and vehicle that people are 9 times out of 10 will be likely under substance and you remove the train out of the equation that puts it in their favor," said Lewis.
"They could simply enough put arms that would intersect and close off the whole thing completely and do it at night," said Reese.
But if the commission does decide to close the tracks.
Reese says, the 48 families he has hired might be out of a job.
"I hope that Union Pacific will cooperate because we have 48 families probably about 4 or 5 of them live in Midland the rest of them live in Odessa who are dependent on Panetek Industries," said Reese.
Sgt. Lewis told me if it does close up, trucks could take alternative routes.
They could go down loop 338, Trunk road, or Solo road.
He did say this would take longer but those are safer intersections.
However, Reese says those roads are shaky and take longer to get across.
Commissioners have requested more information to ensure that alternatives will be set in place just in case they shut the crossing down.
No word yet on when they will make this decision.
