The North Carolina Department of Transportation is investing $16.3 million to improve freight infrastructure across the state, targeting 12 short-line railroads and the Port of Morehead City.
What’s Related
According to NCDOT, the projects will upgrade more than 95 miles of track and improve eight bridges and culverts. The work is meant to help carriers move more freight while keeping rail service reliable for businesses that depend on it.
“These projects deliver significant benefits to North Carolina’s freight rail network,” said Jason Orthner, director of NCDOT’s Rail Division. “By working closely with our railroad partners, we are strengthening reliability and resiliency, supporting businesses across the state, and reinforcing the rail infrastructure that drives North Carolina’s economy.”
The funding comes through the Freight Rail & Rail Crossing Safety Improvement program, which was created by the General Assembly in 2014 to support the health and performance of rail infrastructure statewide.
NCDOT’s $16.3 million contribution is being matched by railroad companies and the N.C. Ports Authority, bringing the total investment tied to these projects to $41.5 million. Several projects also secured federal funding.
The largest single award went to the Aberdeen Carolina and Western Railway, which received nearly $4.9 million to replace rail and make improvements along its Piedmont Division in Cabarrus and Mecklenburg counties.
“We are grateful to partner with the NCDOT on ACWR’s large-scale infrastructure project, which promotes safe and efficient freight movement in our region,” said Anthony Menzies, CEO of Aberdeen Carolina and Western Railway. “The combination of private and NCDOT funds also allowed us to leverage over $8.9 million in matching grants from the Federal Railroad Administration, which will support economic development across the state.”
Other projects are spread across North Carolina, from the mountains to the coast, with funding supporting rail replacement, bridge repairs, and corridor upgrades.
Project specifics
Aberdeen Carolina and Western Railway: $4.85 million for rail replacement and upgrades along the Piedmont Division in Cabarrus and Mecklenburg counties.
Great Smoky Mountains Railroad: $1.68 million for track improvements and bridge repairs across Jackson, Swain, Macon, and Cherokee counties.
Carolina Coastal Railway: $1.23 million for rail and bridge improvements in Beaufort, Greene, Washington, and Wilson counties.
Winston-Salem Southbound Railroad: $1.11 million for rail improvements in Davidson County.
Raleigh & Fayetteville Railroad: Nearly $1 million for corridor improvements in Wake and Harnett counties.
North Carolina and Virginia Railroad: $979,813 for rail replacement along the mainline corridor in Northampton County.
Chesapeake & Albemarle Railroad: $712,801 for bridge and track improvements across four northeastern counties.
Yadkin Valley Railroad: $754,700 for track upgrades in Yadkin, Surry, and Stokes counties.
At the Port of Morehead City, more than $1 million will be used to install a rail scale and replace and upgrade rail within the port, helping improve the flow of freight between ships, trains, and trucks.
