The railroad crossing in Weatherly Borough will be closed for up to two days next week.

Borough officials were notified this week that Norfolk Southern Railroad would be closing the crossing on East Main Street between Wilbur Street and West Main/Hudsondale streets starting Tuesday.

A sign set up alongside the railroad tracks says the crossing would be closed for two days, but borough officials hope the work is done sooner.

The closure cuts the borough in half, and forces a 23-mile detour to get from one side of town to the other, Police Chief Brian Markovchick said Thursday.

Contingency plans are in place for fire, police and ambulance services, he said, and the Weatherly Area School District will switch to virtual learning due to issues with busing.

“We will get through it,” he said. “There are plans in place.”

The borough police will have an extra officer on staff in town, and will have officers on both sides of the crossing to respond to emergencies.

Likewise, the Citizens Fire Co. No. 1 of Weatherly plans to place trucks and equipment on both sides of the borough, and also changed response cards to bring in additional fire companies in an emergency, said company foreman Paul Bray, who is also an emergency management coordinator for neighboring Packer Twp.

“We have enough manpower to cover both sides of the bridge (and crossing),” he said.

Lehigh Valley EMS, which is the ambulance provider for the borough, will also have ambulances on both sides of the crossing, Markovchick said.

The railroad did not give the borough much prior notice, showing up yesterday to begin its preparation and putting up the sign at the crossing, he said.

The fire company had to cancel its plans to have its hoses and rescue equipment tested next week due to the closure. The fire company made the plans months in advance, Bray said.

Borough officials also notified the nursing homes and assisted living facilities in town about the closing.

Norfolk Southern Railroad plans to replace the tracks and then re-pave the crossing, Connor Spielmaker, a railroad spokesman, said in an email.

“Safety is a top priority - and maintaining the railroad is a key component of keeping it safe,” he said. “We know this can be an inconvenience, and we coordinated this closure with state and local officials to make it as smooth as possible. We appreciate the community’s understanding and patience during this work.”

Spielmaker confirmed Thursday afternoon that this would be a two-day closure.