POLKTON – Beginning Monday, Jan. 19, the at-grade railroad crossing on Ross Wright Road in Polkton will permanently close in conjunction with the Polkton Rail Siding Extension project, aiming to improve rail safety and efficiency along the CSX SF-Line and Queen City Express route between Charlotte and Wilmington while reducing rail congestion along the corridor.
The closure is part of a larger project featuring these proposed improvements:
- Extending siding track along the south side of the railroad, roughly located between Freedom Road and east of the bridge at Boston Avenue
- Permanently closing the railroad crossing at Ross Wright Road
A second project is currently scheduled for right of way acquisition in 2029 and construction in FY 2032:
- Building a new two-lane roadway on new location from N.C. 218 to U.S. 74, just west of Martin Street (which will maintain access to U.S. 74)
- Maintaining access along the existing N.C. 218 to and from Polkton
- Building a new bridge that will carry the roadway over Peachland-Polkton Road and the railroad
- Building two new intersections that will provide access from the new roadway to Peachland-Polkton Road and to U.S. 74, near Horne Town Road
- U.S. 74 will feature a reduced conflict intersection design for vehicles, redirecting turns to right in/right out movements
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