What do they do with crossing signals when the line is abandoned or if the crossing is upgraded or when the signals are replaced?
It can vary a lot from State to State. Illinois used to have elaborate instructions about how to post a completely dead RR line (they didn’t use that term, perhaps “deactivation” but I really don’t recall specifically) . . . but it was a rather complicated rigamarole to go into that acknowledges there are still rails there, but nothing is going to go over them. Then and only then did the school bus not have to stop and open its doors! It was a big deal when I studied for my first Illinois driver’s license over 25 years ago. Don’t know now; but it seems that the crossbuck and yellow “RR” warning last longer than the signals do. Recent copies of “Rules of the Road” have not fretted about how to post a dead RR crossing. That doesn’t mean it isn’t still law, though.
Surely there are people out there who know more about removing railroad signage than I do! - a. s.
I would think that an “Exempt” sign, posted with the circular warning (“RxR”) sign, would take care of this.
Normally, when the tracks are taken up, everything goes, including the signs and signals at grade crossings. Those things can usually be reused, and will probably aid in upgrading a crossing elsewhere.