NEWTON, Kan. (Aug. 10, 2026) — The water main beneath the Main Street railroad crossing has been repaired, and BNSF is continuing the work to restore the railroad crossing for an anticipated re-opening of Wednesday afternoon.
Due to the extent of the damage and the work still required to safely restore the crossing, Main Street will remain closed through Wednesday afternoon. BNSF crews are currently replacing railroad ballast and ties, after which the tracks will be adjusted to restore the proper elevation through the crossing.
Additional concrete repairs will also be completed near the tracks by the City of Newton Street Department. Once those repairs are complete, the railroad’s contractor will place asphalt at the crossing to address the elevation difference created by the track work.
The crossing is anticipated to reopen by the end of the day Wednesday, pending completion of the remaining repair work. Crews will continue working to safely reopen the crossing as soon as possible.
A definitive cause of the water main failure has not been determined. The City and BNSF remain focused on completing the repairs and safely restoring the crossing.
A posted detour has been established for K-15 traffic while the Main Street railroad crossing remains closed.
- Southbound traffic: Broadway to High Street, then east on High Street to 1st Street and south on 1st Street to Main Street.
- Northbound traffic: Main Street to 1st Street, then west on 1st Street to High Street and north on High Street to Broadway.
The posted detour is recommended, particularly for larger vehicles, to help navigate around the closure. However, motorists may use other open streets that work for their route and destination.
Earlier News Release (Aug. 10, 2026)
Main Street and railroad crossing closed due to water main break
A significant water main break occurred under the railroad tracks on Main Street and was reported by a BNSF employee around 1 a.m. Monday.
The City of Newton Water Division is actively working on the water main break. Because both City infrastructure and the railroad crossing infrastructure have been impacted, the City and BNSF will be working together on repairs to get this area of Main Street safely back in operation.
Main Street is currently closed:
- Near E. 3rd Street and Main Street
- At the railroad tracks on Main Street
The affected area is expected to remain closed for the majority of the day while City and BNSF crews work on the necessary repairs.
Please avoid the area and use an alternate route. Do NOT drive around barricades!
We know this is a significant closure on Newton’s Main Street and appreciate everyone’s patience as crews work to address the situation safely.
We’ll provide additional updates as more information becomes available. Please give City and BNSF crews plenty of room to work.
