Roads at railroad crossings in Burlington, Elon, Gibsonville, and Graham will close to all vehicle traffic starting today (Monday, August 24), to install new railroad tracks along the North Carolina Railroad corridor. This is in addition to previously-announced closures announced in Mebane.
The closures are expected to remain in effect through Friday, August 28, weather permitting, so that new railroad tracks can be installed, the N.C. Department of Transportation (DOT) said in a release.
Roads will be closed to vehicle traffic at six rail crossings in Burlington: Elmira Street; Gilmer Street; Glen Raven Road; Main Street; Queen Ann Street; and York Road, according to the N.C. Railroad Company.
Roads will be closed for rail replacement work at five crossings in Elon: Church Street; Gilliam Road; Huffine Street; Oak Avenue; and Williamson Avenue, according to a project map posted on the website for the N.C. Railroad Company.
The following roads in Gibsonville will close to vehicle traffic starting Monday: Colony Road; Cullen Road; East Joyner Street; Frieden Church Road; Huffine Street; Springwood Avenue; and Wagoner Road.
In Graham, roads will be closed to traffic at the rail crossings along Pomeroy, Stone, and Washington streets.
The following roads in Mebane are scheduled to remain closed to vehicle traffic through Thursday, August 27: Third Street; Fourth Street; Fifth Street; Buckhorn Road; Mattress Factory Road; Gibson Road; Moore Road; and Redman Road.
During the closures, no vehicle traffic will be permitted through the crossings, according to DOT, which is urging drivers to plan ahead.
Norfolk Southern crews began rail replacement work on the Orange County side of Mebane starting at 6:00 a.m. Monday, to be followed by rolling closures along 34 miles of the rail corridor that runs between Mebane and Greensboro.
Detour signs will be posted to direct drivers to alternative routes around the work zones, DOT said in the release. Once construction work is complete, the asphalt may still be curing at certain crossings, potentially requiring a crossing to remain closed for safety, even if work crews are no longer active at the site, DOT officials said.
The schedule is subject to change based on construction progress, weather, and rail operations.
The replacements are intended to strengthen the state’s rail network, support safer and more reliable travel, and promote economic growth in the state, according to the N.C. Railroad Company. The rail replacement work in Alamance, western Orange, and eastern Guilford counties is part of a larger project in which up to 69 miles of railways between Raleigh and Greensboro will be replaced.
Updates will be posted on the N.C. Railroad Company’s project website at: ncrr.com/cappfi-new-rail/.
