Traffic in downtown Clanton may get a little worse in the coming days for motorists already experiencing headaches because of a closed intersection.

The railroad crossing on Jackson Avenue will be closed for a couple of days while railroad workers make improvements to the crossing, Clanton Mayor Billy Joe Driver said.

Jackson Avenue was serving as part of a detour through downtown Clanton while the Alabama Department of Transportation closed and made improvements to the intersection of highways 31 and 22.

The additional traffic on Jackson Avenue seems to have caused the deterioration of the railroad crossing, Driver said he was told by CSX officials, who were concerned that the condition of the crossing had reached the point where vehicles could have sustained damage.

Driver said the timing of the project is exasperating.

“I was hoping we could hold off until we got the intersection open,” he said.

Driver said that while the city hadn’t heard any complaints about the crossing, CSX officials said they have received complaints, and the mayor had even contacted them about the condition of the crossing.

Instead of crossing the train tracks at Jackson Avenue, motorists can use the crossings at Second Avenue North or take Enterprise Road to Logan Road, for those traveling southbound.

The mayor said Clanton Police would likely be out directing traffic at various intersections when possible. When police are present, drivers should heed their directions instead of traffic lights.

Driver said he hoped the work could be completed by Tuesday evening.

After the project is completed, similar work will be performed at the 16th Avenue railroad crossing, Driver said.

Driver said he requested the work be completed on Jackson Avenue before the 16th Avenue crossing was closed.