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The North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) and city of Durham are partnering to upgrade a grade crossing on Ellis Road, which has been the site of multiple accidents, including a fatal one in December 2009.

The department’s rail division will coordinate the revision of railroad signals to synchronize with new traffic signals at adjacent intersections. The railroad-preempted signals will take into account approaching trains, peak-hour traffic volume and potential delays, and help keep traffic running smoothly in the area, according to NCDOT.

The $500,000 project, which is projected to take 12 to 18 months to complete, will be funded primarily by NCDOT. The city also is expected to contribute, according to the department.

NCDOT plans to eventually close the Ellis Road crossing. In addition, the department and city plan to complete a comprehensive study of all crossings within Durham’s limits during the coming year.

Meanwhile, NCDOT plans to close a New Amity Road crossing in Scotts on May 5. Nearby crossings were upgraded last year as a part of a corridor project.

NCDOT is trying to reduce the number of redundant crossings, as well as those with a high accident rate or low traffic volume, throughout the state. Since 1993, the department has closed more than 155 public crossings.