Abstract: An improved highway grade crossing for railroad tracks. The crossing is comprised of a plurality of wood panels which are capped with an expanded polymer. The polymer provides a wear surface for the crossing which can be replaced without having to take up the entire crossing structure. In one embodiment the polymer cap is a rubber and steel composite. The steel keeps the rubber stretched to substantially avoid temperature induced expansion and buckling of the rubber. Deterioration resulting from vehicular traffic over a buckled surface is thus avoided.