Improvements Made to Rail Crossings in Roanoke Rapids

RALEIGH—The N.C. Department of Transportation has installed crossing gates and signals at the intersection of West Eighth Street and the CSX Transportation tracks in Roanoke Rapids.

The $128,355 project was paid for with 90 percent federal funds and 10 percent city funds. CSX and Roanoke Rapids will split the cost to maintain this crossing. As many as six freight trains travel through the crossing daily, at speeds up to 15 miles per hour.

In a separate project, NCDOT recently installed crossing gates at the intersection of 10th Street (State Road 1400) and the CSX tracks. The $166,809 project was paid for with 90 percent federal funds and 10 percent state funds from NCDOT. Maintenenace for this crossing will be evenly split between CSX and NCDOT.

These two 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 nearly 2,400 of North Carolina's 4,182 public crossings.

***NCDOT***