News Release
December 18, 2000

Two railroad crossings near Chalybeate Springs made safer

RALEIGH -- The N.C. Departent of Transportation (NCDOT) has installed automatic gates at two roadway crossings of the Norfolk Southern Railway near Chalybeate Springs.

At the Lafayette School Street (SR 1454) crossing, both gates and warning signals were erected. At the nearby US 401 crossing, gates were installed and warning signals already in place were upgraded.

Installation of the new equipment cost $199,900 with 90 percent provided by the Federal Government and 10 percent by the State of North Carolina. Norfolk Southern and NCDOT will split the cost of maintaining the crossing-protection devices.

Norfolk Southern operates freight trains at speeds up to 35 mph over the two crossings near Chalybeate Springs.

The projects are part of a comprehensive statewide program to enhance highway safety by adding or improving signals and gates at public railroad crossings. Mechanical warning devices of some sort are in place at more than 2,200 of North Carolina's 4,400 public crossings.

"We have a responsibility to ensure safety," said N.C. Transportation Secretary David McCoy. "As the amount of freight trains, passenger trains, and highway traffic grows, the need for such improvements will become increasingly critical."