RALEIGH — The N.C. Department of Transportation has made crossing safety improvements at two intersections in
Catawba
County
.
NCDOT installed crossing cantilever signals in the Southeast quadrant and gates in the Northwest quadrant at the intersection of
12th Street
and the Norfolk Southern Railways tracks in
Hickory
. The $162,400 project was paid for with 90 percent federal funds and 10 percent funds from the city.
As part of the Western Piedmont Traffic Separation study, NCDOT also recently installed crossing signals and gates at the intersection of
14th Street
and the
Norfolk
Southern tracks. The $153,000 project was paid for with 90 percent federal funds with 10 percent paid for by the City of
Hickory
.
More than 20 freight trains travel through the two crossings daily, at speeds up to 35 miles per hour.
Norfolk
Southern and the city will split the cost to maintain the crossings.
Theses
Catawba
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***
Contact:
Joan Bagherpour, 919-733-7245 x261
NCDOT Rail Division
