NCDOT preps for railroad crossing removal in Rowan County

North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) contractors will kick off a project Aug. 24 to eliminate a grade crossing at Eudy Road between China Grove and Landis, N.C.

Closing the Rowan County crossing will eliminate the risk of collisions between trains and road vehicles, improve safety and reduce congestion, NCDOT officials said in a press release.

The project is part of NCDOT's Salisbury-to-Kannapolis Railroad Improvements project, which involves constructing 11 miles of second track along the North Carolina Railroad Co. (NCRR) corridor in Rowan County.

The added track will allow trains to pass more frequently, increase capacity and reliability, and reduce travel time between Raleigh and Charlotte, according to NCDOT's website.

The project also calls for constructing a two-track railroad bridge for NCRR over Kimball Road in China Grove, in addition to upgrading or permanently closing several crossings.

NCDOT expects to finish the Salisbury-to-Kannapolis Railroad Improvements by spring 2017.