grade crossing

noun

1. an intersection of a railroad track and another track, a road, etc., at the same level.

grade crossing

noun

1. Also called (in Britain and certain other countries): level crossing. a point at which a railway and a road cross, esp one with barriers that close the road when a train is scheduled to pass

Word History and Origins

Origin of grade crossing¹

An Americanism dating back to 1885–90

Example Sentences

“We’ve got so many grade crossings in the country,” Little said.

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“We continue to invest in grade crossing safety by maintaining crossings, working to help develop public service campaigns and educational resources and investing in new technologies,” the railroad said in a Wednesday statement.

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The railroads could then enclose a Sodo train base and remove a busy grade crossing from the regional mainline.

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The Federal Railroad administration later urged proper training, oversight and crew communication at highway–railroad grade crossings.

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In the 1990s, federal rail regulators examined some 2,000 local bans on train horns and concluded they were contributing to crashes at grade crossings.

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Related Words

• bridge 
• crossroad 
• intersection 
• junction 
• overpass 
• passage