KALAMAZOO (WKZO AM/FM) –Early estimates show it could take much of the day to clear roads that are blocked by a freight train that has tipped over just north of Kalamazoo Avenue near Hopcat.
Public Safety Chief Karianne Thomas says they are asking anyone who can go around the downtown area to do so.
She says crews that specialize in cleaning up these kinds of problems have been dispatched and it will take time and some heavy equipment to remove all the wreckage.
The priority is to clear the cars from Kalamazoo Avenue but that involves preventing several cars that are leaning precariously from falling over, and right now the only thing that is holding them up are the cars crossing the busy downtown street.
She says for now the situation is stabilized, there are no hazardous chemicals involved and Consumers Energy workers are restoring power and may have to replace a power pole that took a hit.
There were no injuries and only minimal damage.
Right now it’s unclear how long it will take to restore downtown back to normal.
