NCDOT awards contract for grade separation project in Charlotte

Written by Jenifer Nunez, assistant editor
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The North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) has awarded a contract for the Sugar Creek Road grade separation project, which is designed to improve railroad capacity, efficiency and safety along Sugar Creek Road in Charlotte, N.C.

 

The project is part of a series of upgrades to the North Carolina Railroad Company’s line from Raleigh to Charlotte. This rail corridor is one of the busiest sections in the state, currently hosting more than 30 Norfolk Southern freight trains and eight Amtrak trains per day.

Completion of this project will eliminate the risk of train/vehicle collisions at this location, improve safety for both vehicle and rail passengers, as well as reduce traffic delays in the area. Construction costs are estimated at $17 million, with the total programmed project cost estimated at $43 million in the State Transportation Improvement Program (STIP). The project is funded by the city of Charlotte, the North Carolina Railroad Company, Norfolk Southern, the Federal Railroad Administration and the NCDOT.

The project will include: Constructing a bridge carrying Sugar Creek Road over the existing and future railroad tracks; realigning North Davidson Street to the intersection of Sugar Creek Road and Redwood Avenue and construct intersection improvements; extending Bearwood Avenue under the proposed Sugar Creek Road bridge to intersect with the realigned North Davidson Street; constructing a new connector road from the existing Greensboro Street/East Sugar Creek Road intersection to Raleigh Street, east of the proposed Sugar Creek Road bridge; permanently closing the existing Craighead Road railroad crossing and removing the existing Northmore Street/Sugar Creek intersection.

Work on the grade-separation project is anticipated to begin as soon as Oct. 1 and is scheduled for completion in September 2018.

 

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