Improvements Made to Two Rail Crossings in Haywood County

RALEIGH—The N.C. Department of Transportation has made crossing safety improvements at two intersections in Haywood County.

NCDOT installed crossing signals and gates at the intersection of Pinnacle Drive (State Road 1152) and the Norfolk Southern Railroad tracks in Saunook. The $160,400 project was paid for with 90 percent federal funds and 10 percent state funds from NCDOT. As many as four freight trains travel through the crossing daily at speeds up to 30 miles per hour.

In Canton, NCDOT installed crossing signals and gates at the intersection of Nyal Street (S.R. 1580) and the Norfolk Southern tracks. The $155,100 project was paid for with 90 percent federal funds and 10 percent state funds from NCDOT. Between four and eight freight trains use this crossing daily at speeds up to 30 mph.

Norfolk Southern and NCDOT will split the cost to maintain the crossings at both intersections.

These Haywood 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 are now in place at more than 2,400 of North Carolina's 4,121 public at-grade crossings.

***NCDOT***