North Carolina Railroad completes High Point infrastructure project

Infrastructure improvements along a stretch of the North Carolina Railroad Co. (NCRR) in High Point, North Carolina, have been completed, the railroad announced this week.

In January, NCRR and High Point officials agreed to a $5.1 million plan to improve the railroad corridor and drainage in the city's downtown. NCRR funded $3.6 million of the project's cost, NCRR officials said in a press release.

More than 40 Norfolk Southern Railway and Amtrak trains operate through High Point daily. In the 1930s, tracks running through downtown High Point were lowered to eliminate grade crossings and increase efficiencies on the roadways and the railroad. Over time, rainfall and storm damage eroded the slopes along the track bed.

As part of the project, slope and track bed improvements were made to address the drainage and appearance issues, NCRR officials said.

Each day, more than 11 million tons of freight traffic is carried on the 317-mile NCRR, according to the railroad.