Damaged rail crossing denies handicap access

The KCS railroad crossing stymies Joe Pritchard who is wheelchair bound and denies him access to the east side of Gravette.
The KCS railroad crossing stymies Joe Pritchard who is wheelchair bound and denies him access to the east side of Gravette.

— Joe Pritchard would like to be able to wheel himself to downtown Gravette but the KCS railroad crossing at Main Street has him stymied.

Some time ago he attempted to navigate the crossing but the wheels in his motorized chair became trapped in gaps in the crossing.

Pritchard, 87, said his chair was damaged and after paying several hundred dollars on repairs, “I was advised not to attempt the crossing again,” he said.

The original concrete approaches and concrete slab between the rails were removed several months ago and, when repairs were made, the center slab was damaged and the approaches were filled in with asphalt which has settled.

Pritchard has little strength in his legs and is unable to navigate except in his chair. He enjoys wheeling himself on the streets and sidewalks west of the tracks. He said he often wheels himself to the crossing but the rough crossing prevents him from crossing. Hecan only look toward the business district on the east side of the tracks.

There are only two other pedestrian crossings in Gravette. But there is no sidewalk at either: the Dallas Street crossing or Highway 72 overpass and its approaches.

News, Pages 3 on 10/12/2011