Grade crossings in North Carolina, Ohio see work

Written by Jenifer Nunez, assistant editor
image description
NCDOT

Work was completed recently on a railroad crossing at the intersection of Andy Griffith Parkway and Rockford Street in Mount Airy, N.C. The old crossing was identified as a safety hazard and was slated for resurfacing through the North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) Freight Rail & Rail Crossing Safety Improvement Fund (FR&RCSI).

 

The old crossing was deteriorating and traffic turning north onto Rockford Street had to travel in line with the tracks for a brief period. The resurfacing project replaced the old crossing structure with a concrete crossing and created a turning lane to prevent drivers from travelling down the tracks.

The collaborative project was the result of cooperation among the Yadkin Valley Railroad, NCDOT Highway Division 11 and NCDOT Rail Division. Yadkin Valley Railroad provided the labor for the trackwork, the NCDOT Rail Division provided approximately $260,000 in funding through FR&RCSI and NCDOT Highway Division 11 handled traffic control, construction cost for the added turn lane and municipality coordination for the project.

Additionally, the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio (PUCO) approved funding authorization from the Ohio Rail Development Commission to make improvements at nine crossings.

CSX will install roadway gates and mast-mounted flashing lights at Martel Road/County Road 171, near Martel; Pole Lane Road/County Road 174, near Marion; Linn-Hipsher Road/County Road 195, near Caledonia; Marseilles-Galion Road/County Road 26, near Galion; Iberia-Bucyrus Road/State Route 100, near Galion; Nesbitt Road/TR 177, Claridon Township; Columbus-Sandusky Road/State Route 98, near Marion and at Water Street, village of Caledonia.

PUCO also approved construction authorization from the Ohio Rail Development Commission directing the installation of gates and mast-mounted flashing lights to the Ashtabula, Carson & Jefferson Railroad crossing at East Beech Street/State Route 167 in the village of Jefferson, Ashtabula County.

The CSX upgrades are to be completed no later than March 17, 2016 and the Ashtabula, Carson & Jefferson Railroad upgrade is to be completed no later than June 10, 2015; all upgrades will be paid for with federal funds.

Tags: