CSX rail improvement project underway in North Carolina

CSX, North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) and Union County officials last week marked the start of construction on a rail safety improvement project in Waxhaw, North Carolina.

The project calls for building 2,500 feet of additional track to meet the demand for more freight trains along a CSX corridor and the creation of a 13,000-foot passing siding. The new track will enable trains to pass one another more efficiently with fewer disruptions and help relieve local roadway congestion, NCDOT officials said in a news brief.

The project also includes the construction of a grade separation involving a new bridge on Helms Road over the existing tracks and the closing of an existing grade crossing at the location.

The new bridge will improve safety by eliminating the potential for vehicle-train collisions and provide a reliable connection for vehicles crossing the rail corridor, NCDOT officials said. The project also will help alleviate blocked crossings and boost safety in Waxhaw, a growing community in Union County.