News Release
Date: 3-18-05

Improvements made to railroad crossings in Liberty

Raleigh – The N.C. Department of Transportation (NCDOT) has installed crossing gates and signals at the Luther Street and Bowman Road crossings of the Norfolk Southern Railroad in Liberty.

The Luther Street project cost $149,500 and was paid with 90 percent federal funds and 10 percent state funds. The Bowman Road project cost $162,200 and was paid for with all federal funds.  Norfolk Southern and the town will split the costs to maintain both crossings.  Two freight trains travel through the crossings daily at speeds up to 30 mph.

The Randolph County 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 now in place at more than 2,300 of North Carolina's 4,350 public crossings.