Crossing projects a priority in North Carolina, Ohio and Oregon

The North Carolina Department of Transportation's (NCDOT) Rail Division recently improved a grade crossing in Kannapolis.

The project involved the installation of signals and gates at a Norfolk Southern Railway crossing. The project's $556,814 cost was 90 percent covered by federal dollars, while NCDOT provided the remainder. Maintenance funding will be divided equally between the state and NS.

Twenty passenger and freight trains travel through the crossing daily at a maximum speed of 65 mph.

Meanwhile, the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio recently approved an agreement with the Ohio Rail Development Commission, NS and the city of Middletown to upgrade two crossings and close one.

The parties plan to permanently close the Grand Avenue crossing and install new surfaces at the Central Avenue and Verity Parkway crossings in Middletown. NS and the city must complete the work by Sept. 18, 2014.

In Oregon, the Oregon International Port of Coos Bay expects work to begin soon to upgrade two crossings in downtown Reedsport. Railworks Track Systems Inc. is scheduled to begin moving equipment on Monday for the project's first phase.

The $570,000 project involves the installation of a new crossing signal system at each location, including flasher gate crossing signals equipped with LED flashers, electronic bells and gates, and train detection systems. All work is scheduled to be completed by Oct. 29.

The port, Coos Bay Rail Link, Oregon Department of Transportation and city of Reedsport partnered to develop the project.