Description

This project is among of a series of improvements to the railroad between Raleigh and Charlotte to increase railroad capacity, efficiency, and safety. The N.C. Department of Transportation is proposing to add a second railroad track from south of Interstate 40 to north of McCrimmon Parkway in Morrisville. Under this project, a new railroad bridge will be constructed over Hopson Road to separate vehicle and train traffic, thus increasing safety along the corridor.

News and Updates

Construction is anticipated to begin in February 2013.

Project Overview and Purpose

• Building a new bridge for Hopson Road to replace street-level railroad crossings at Hopson Road and Church Street will reduce the risk of vehicle/train collisions, improve safety for vehicle and rail passengers, and reduce traffic congestion in the area. Removing railroad crossings also will reduce train horn noise.
• Constructing a second track will allow additional daily Raleigh to Charlotte passenger train round trips without affecting freight train volumes.
• The additional capacity also will allow passenger trains to pass slower freight trains and improve service reliability.
• Modification of existing railroad curves will allow higher passenger train speeds and reduce travel times for passenger trains.
• This section of the railroad is a part of the federally-designated Southeast High Speed Rail Corridor (SEHSR) connecting the northeast with the southeast. These improvements will allow the long-term implementation of the corridor.

Project Highlights

This project is comprised of two sub-projects that will be constructed at the same time. Below is a brief description of each sub-project:

• Projects U-4716A,C - Construct 3.3 miles of second railroad track from south of Interstate 40 to north of McCrimmon Parkway in Morrisville. Construct a new railroad bridge over Hopson Road to replace the existing railroad crossing.
• Project U-4716B – Extend Church Street north from Keystone Park Drive to a new intersection with Hopson Road. Connect Keystone Drive directly to Church Street in the area of the existing Church Street railroad crossing and remove the existing Church Street railroad crossing.

Project Timeline

February 2013	Begin Construction
Fall 2015	Project Completed

Contact Information

Resources for Local Property Owners

In many cases, it is inevitable that a certain amount of private property must be acquired. The displacement of homes and businesses is minimized to the extent practicable. The following brochures will answer questions about this process.