The stretch of Acres Street between Jones Avenue and James Garner Boulevard is shut down again because of a failing railroad panel, the third time the city has closed the crossing for the same problem since June 2024.

The City of Norman closed the road to motorists at 1 p.m. Aug. 19, according to a notice posted on the city's website. A detour route is in place to guide drivers around the closure.

Railroad operator BNSF, which owns and maintains the crossing panels, has been contacted to make repairs, the city said. The street will stay closed until BNSF completes the work. No timeline for reopening has been announced.

The City of Norman also posted the closure alert on its official X account on Aug. 19, directing motorists to the city's website for updates.

Same defect, no permanent fix

The city's notice confirms this is the same safety concern that forced identical closures on Jan. 14, 2025, and June 24, 2024. In both earlier cases, the city posted nearly identical alerts and waited on BNSF to act. Neither repair prevented the panel from failing again.

The pattern raises a basic question: why hasn't the defect been permanently resolved after two prior closures spanning more than two years?

BNSF has not issued a public statement about why the panel keeps failing or whether a permanent fix is planned. The city has not named a timeline for resolution beyond stating the road will reopen once BNSF completes repairs.

What drivers need to know

Acres Street remains closed between Jones Avenue and James Garner Boulevard until further notice. Drivers should follow posted detour signs in the area.

The city said updates will be posted to its official news page as they become available. Motorists with questions or concerns about the closure can contact BNSF directly at 1-800-832-5452.