The South Carolina Department of Transportation will spend about $4 million this year to upgrade some of the more dangerous railroad crossings across the state.

NewsChannel 15 has learned one of those crossings is in our area.

Trains come through the McQueen Street railroad crossing in the city of Florence, several times a day.

There's a stop sign and a yield sign, but no warning devices to alert you the train is coming, only the sound of the train's horn.

This concerns many residents in the McQueen Street community.

"If the kids in the car making noise, you can't hear. You have to rely on hearing the train, and you might not be able to hear it. Somebody can get hit," said Melika Wingate.

In the past five years, one car has been hit by a train at the intersection, according to state transportation officials.

TC Covington of Bennettsville crosses this track several times a week and says it's not safe.

"Sometimes the train be right up on you when you get here. Really, it can get pretty dangerous out here," said Covington.

Transportation officials say the crossing on McQueen Street ranked on their priority list for safety improvements.

South Carolina gets about $4 million a year in federal money to upgrade crossings.

The improvements are expensive, right at $200,000 per crossing. So the state can only afford to upgrade about 20 tracks this year, and the McQueen Street crossing made the cut.

By this time next year, the track will have flashing lights with gates.

People who travel this way are pleased.

"They'll be good for the people. At least they'll see the lights coming," said Leroy James.

Next April, officials will review crash data from other tracks to determine the next 20 crossings that will be upgraded.

A new law, called John's Law requires transportation officials to place stop signs at extremely dangerous tracks, until money is available for safety improvements.