Alternative 2
Lombard Street Relocation

Alternative 3
Lombard Street Extension

Alternative 4
Church Street

Alternative 5
Smith Street

Alternative 6
Underpass Not Constructed

A project open house was held on Thursday, March 6th at the Cooper School Auditorium.

Click here to view the materials
displayed on the open house.

Welcome to NCDOT's webpage on the Clayton Grade Separation project.

This site is designed to provide information about the Grade Separation plan, including project history, details about each proposed alternative, current project status and contact information for key project personnel.

How to Access Information on Proposed Alternatives

On the right side of this page is detailed information about each of the proposed alternatives for the project. Click on an alternative to learn more about it and to see photo-simulations of what the finished project may look like for each alternative.

Why Improve Clayton's Railroad Crossings?

A growing number of housing and job opportunities in Johnston County are contributing to population increases in and around the Town of Clayton. As traffic volume grows and the number of freight and passenger trains continues to increase, Clayton's elected officials and NCDOT staff agree on the importance of placing a high priority on safety enhancement projects like the Clayton Grade Separation.

Twelve trains travel through Clayton daily — eight Norfolk Southern freight trains and four Amtrak passenger trains. Continued improvements to crossings can help lessen the possibility of train-vehicle collisions. In addition, as trains pass across roadways, vehicular access at the tracks is blocked, affecting emergency services, deliveries, school buses and commuters. Improved crossings can help traffic flow through these intersections.

During 2006 there were 75 rail-highway grade crossing collisions in North Carolina, resulting in eight deaths and 21 injuries. To reduce the potential for train-vehicle collisions, NCDOT is working with communities — such as Clayton — across the state to conduct detailed engineering evaluations and implement recommended rail crossing improvements, including the following: upgrading existing or adding new flashing lights and gates; relocating existing crossings; adding a bridge or underpass for pedestrians and vehicles; or, in some cases, closing the crossing. These enhancements result in improving the safety of motorists, pedestrians, rail passengers and train crews.

Improving Crossing Safety - Traffic Separation Study

In 2002 the Town of Clayton and NCDOT agreed to analyze nine (9) public at-grade crossings between Shotwell Road and NC 42. After evaluating the volume of train traffic and flow of vehicular traffic patterns through town, the Traffic Separation Study recommended improvements for some crossings and closure for others. Since then, NCDOT and Town of Clayton have continued to work together to explore those recommendations and identify the best opportunities to improve rail safety throughout the town with a series of railroad crossing improvements or closures.

Crossing Improvements - Background and Status

Following a process of collaboration between the Town of Clayton, NCDOT, the North Carolina Railroad Company and Norfolk Southern, the team agreed to a series of near- and mid-term improvements. Some improvements have been completed, while others are currently in-process. This site is dedicated to information concerning one of these projects: The Clayton Grade Separation.

Pedestrian Grade Separation Study

In 2002 NCDOT conducted a planning and engineering study for a pedestrian underpass that would connect Front Street and Main Street. Based on the closure of Church Street, the underpass was proposed to be located between Smith Street and Church Street.

STATUS: Due to requests from the public at a meeting held in February 2007, NCDOT and the Town of Clayton are now examining the feasibility of a combined pedestrian/vehicle underpass. Five (5) proposed alternatives are being considered, each providing new sidewalks and a new roadway allowing unrestricted pedestrian and vehicular access, including emergency responders. A sixth alternative, No Build, would result in the existing roadways remaining as they are currently, with no new grade separation being built. This study is currently underway.

Current Status

Because of the Town of Clayton and NCDOT's commitment to safety and community enhancement, the Clayton Grade Separation Project is in the process of gathering public input on each of the proposed alternatives. Click here to learn more about public involvement opportunities and how you can get involved.