North Carolina DOT adds signals, gates at Old Fort grade crossing

The North Carolina Department of Transportation's (NCDOT) Rail Division has completed crossing safety improvements at an intersection in Old Fort.

As part of a $310,232 project, NCDOT installed grade crossing signals and gates at the intersection of Spring Street Extension and Norfolk Southern Railway tracks in the city, agency officials said in a press release.

The project received funding from the Federal Highway Administration and the state. Maintenance funding for the project will be divided equally between the municipality and NS.

Currently, 12 freight trains travel daily through the crossing at a maximum speed of 35 mph.

The project is part of a comprehensive statewide program to enhance highway safety by adding or improving signals and gates at public railroad crossings. Automatic warning devices are now in place at more than 2,600 of the 3,800 public at-grade crossings in the state, NCDOT officials said.