For drivers approaching from the south, there is no railroad crossing sign to mark the Union Pacific spur.

Construction
Komatsu Equipment Co
Mechanic Education
Assessment Technology, Inc
Social Studies Content Writer General
CORT
WAREHOUSE/DRIVER General
CORT
Warehouse Supervisor Health Care
Rio Salado College
PA's/Online Instructors

The railroad spur peels off from the Union Pacific main line and crosses Contractor's Way just north of Illinois Street near the northwest corner of Davis-Monthan Air Force Base.

There is no gate to block the tracks, but drivers heading south on Contractor's Way do see a "railroad crossing" sign marking the track.

Drivers heading north don't, however. The sign on the east side of Contractor's Way was washed away in a monsoon flood several years ago.

Robert Melvin says he has called several times since then to have it replaced, to no avail.

The railroad line is in unincorporated Pima County, so the city wasn't responsible. And the county Transportation Department maintains the yellow warning signs that appear in advance of a railroad crossing, but not the actual railroad crossbuck sign before the tracks.

The signs have a blue metal plate affixed to them with a phone number to call to report problems to Union Pacific.

Melvin said he called Union Pacific at least three times. Each time, he was told someone would "look into it," but the sign was never replaced.

Zoe Richmond, a spokeswoman for Union Pacific Railroad, said the crossing signs are important, both for safety and to comply with federal law, and missing signs definitely are a concern.

She said the sign may have fallen to the bottom of the priority list if it was reported on a day when a gate was malfunctioning, but it should have been replaced.

Jim Finnegan, with Union Pacific's signal-operations division, said he was unaware of any previous complaints about the location until a reporter called him Monday, but he put in a work order right away.

He said the sign should be replaced today.

Annabelle Quihuis, a spokeswoman for the county Transportation Department, said the county also takes missing railroad signs seriously.

She was prepared to take responsibility and send workers to the location today, as well, until she realized the missing sign was not the yellow-and-black advance sign maintained by the county.

"We consider those a high priority," she said.