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The North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) has decided not to proceed with the design and construction of a grade separation at 24th Street in Kannapolis after considering local concerns and re-evaluating the project's budget.

Instead, the department now will conduct an in-depth study to determine the best location for the grade separation with the fewest effects on residents, business owners and the environment, NCDOT officials said in a prepared statement. The project calls for building a three-span bridge over North Carolina Railroad Co. and Norfolk Southern Railway tracks. NCDOT initially planned to let a contract for the grade separation next year.

Kannapolis city officials believe 22nd Street offers a more direct east-west connection and better fits with a long-range transportation plan for the area, while local business owners are concerned that a detour route during construction on 24th Street would prevent access to their establishments, NCDOT officials said.

"We listened to those comments and changed our plans as a direct result of what we heard," said North Carolina Board of Transportation member Ralph Womble.

Over the next two to three years, NCDOT plans to perform environmental work at several potential locations for the grade separation, including 22nd and 24th streets. After determining the optimal location, the department, a metropolitan planning organization and the city will work together to secure funding, NCDOT officials said. The department will seek public feedback throughout the process, they added.

NCDOT also will revise its plans to include improvements to existing grade crossings at 18th and 22nd streets, such as by adding a median to prevent motorists from driving around gates. In addition, the department plans to remove the 29th Street crossing as originally planned so crews can add a second track on the Main Street side of an existing track.

The Kannapolis projects are part of the Piedmont Improvement Project, which calls for modernizing the state's freight- and passenger- rail network from Raleigh to Charlotte.