Grade separation to start in North Carolina; crossing work to begin in Ohio

On May 12, a North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) grade separation project is slated to begin to replace a Morrisville Parkway grade crossing with a rail bridge.

The department awarded a $13.6 million contract to Fred Smith Co. to perform the work, which is designed to reduce the risk of automobile-train collisions at the site, relieve motorist and train congestion, and increase rail capacity and efficiency, NCDOT officials said in a press release.

The new bridge is scheduled to open by mid-November 2016. Additional vegetation work should be completed by mid-May 2017, according to NCDOT.

The grade separation is part of the department's Sealed Corridor Program that's advancing in partnership with CSX Transportation and Norfolk Southern Railway.

"The goal of the program is to 'seal' the rail corridor between Raleigh and Charlotte by eliminating or improving rail-highway street level crossings," NCDOT officials said.

The project also is part of the Piedmont Improvement Program that's designed to modernize track, roads and bridges along the Raleigh-Charlotte corridor. The program involves 20 projects that are scheduled for completion in 2017.

Meanwhile, the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio approved construction authorization from the Ohio Rail Development Commission directing CSX to install warning devices at a crossing in Hale Township.

The railroad will install flashing lights and gates at the Township Road 217 crossing. Work must be completed by Feb. 6, 2015. Funding will be covered by federal funds.