The Webster County Sheriff’s Office was notified of the damaged piece Tuesday at 11:08 a.m., according to Sheriff Luke Fleener.

“A passerby called and said there was something unusual on the westbound lane of those tracks,” Fleener said.

The east side of the thick slab was sticking out about a foot into the air, creating a hazard for the heavily-traveled stretch of road.

The crossing is located along Iowa Highway 7 in Webster County, east of the Iowa Crossroads of Global Innovation.

-Messenger photo by Chad Thompson
A semitrailer travels in the eastbound lane along Iowa Highway 7 Tuesday. In the westbound lane, a damaged concrete panel sticks out. The same panel was a problem in 2017.

Deputies directed traffic for about an hour before the Iowa Department of Transportation arrived.

Traffic was reduced to the eastbound lane for much of the afternoon.

No accidents were reported, according to Fleener.

Union Pacific arrived on scene prior to noon to assess the damage.

A piece of concrete in that same location was an issue in June 2017 when it caused multiple crashes — one with serious injuries.

-Messenger photo by Chad Thompson
A Webster County sheriff’s deputy directs traffic along Iowa Highway 7 Tuesday. Only the eastbound lane could be used to go across the Union Pacific Railroad tracks after it was determined a large piece of concrete was sticking up in the westbound lane.

The railroad is responsible for keeping the crossing surface in good working order. While the railroad has the responsibility, the DOT has a program providing funds to help keep them in shape.

The crossing on that section of Iowa Highway 7 was installed in 2015.

A crew with Union Pacific changed out the crossing pad and patched the asphalt Tuesday afternoon, according to Tim McMahan, media representative for Union Pacific.

McMahan said the repairs were completed by 2 p.m.

A crew is set to return today in coordination with the DOT to do final touch-ups, McMahan said.