N.C. DOT to permanently close railroad crossing near Reidsville
From N.C. DOT:
RALEIGH - The N.C. Department of Transportation will permanently close the Ruffin Road railroad crossing near Reidsville beginning Aug. 15. Signs will be installed at the crossing in early August to alert motorists of the change.
The action comes as part of an effort to reduce the number of redundant and/or unsafe rail-highway at-grade crossings throughout the state. The N.C. DOT Rail Division and Norfolk Southern Railway agreed to close the Ruffin Road crossing to improve safety for motorists, rail passengers and train crews.
"The combination of light traffic and adequate alternate access across the tracks via Worsham Mill Road made this an ideal rail-highway crossing to close," explains Arthur Petteway, engineering services manager with N.C. DOT Rail Division. Petteway said the short distance between the tracks and U.S. 29 also contributed to the decision to close the crossing.
As part of the rail-highway crossing closing, improvements were made at Worsham Mill Road to improve traffic flow and enhance safety for motorists and train crews. Those improvements include:
- Widening the existing crossing surface and approaches.
- Realigning and improving the intersection of Worsham Mill and Lick Fork Creek Road.
- Repaving and widening Worsham Mill Road from U.S. 29 Business to Lick Fork Creek Road.
More than 28 freight and passenger trains use the tracks daily traveling at speeds up to 79 miles per hour. Norfolk Southern Railway owns and operates the railroad.
