Grade separation project advances on North Carolina rail line

North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) officials in Charlotte earlier this week marked the continued construction of the Sugar Creek Road grade separation project, one of a series of upgrades to the Raleigh-to-Charlotte portion of the North Carolina Railroad Co.'s (NCRR) line.

The rail corridor is the location of more than 30 Norfolk Southern Railway trains and eight Amtrak trains per day, NCDOT officials said in a press release.

Completion of the Sugar Creek Road overpass will eliminate the risk of collisions between trains and vehicles at the location, improve safety for vehicle and rail passengers, and reduce area traffic delays.

The project is funded by the city of Charlotte, NCRR, NS, the Federal Railroad Administration and NCDOT.

"The Sugar Creek Road overpass will have a significant impact on safety – improving the busiest railroad highway crossing on the North Carolina Railroad line," said NCRR President Scott Saylor.

The railroad is investing $10 million in the project, Saylor said.

Since 1993, more than 85 public and private crossings between Raleigh and Charlotte have been closed in an effort to prevent collisions between trains and vehicles.