February 12, 2004

Work Starts on Highway 54 Railroad Bridge Replacement in Research Triangle Park

RALEIGH, NC -- North Carolina Railroad Company and Norfolk Southern Railway Company announced today that Faulconer Construction Company has been awarded the contract to begin replacement of the Highway 54 railroad bridge in Research Triangle Park. The $5.5 million track and bridge project will take approximately 20 months to complete. Once completed, it will allow for increased freight and passenger train capacity and the expansion of Highway 54 to five lanes and two sidewalks, greatly improving traffic flow in and around Research Triangle Park.

The first phase of the project is to build a portion of the new deck for the main track. After the main track is realigned over the new bridge, the old bridge will be removed and the remaining deck for a second track will be completed. Reduced track curvature in the realignment will allow train speeds up to 79 mph. The new bridge will allow for increased rail capacity and will be located to allow room for the Triangle Transit Authority's planned regional rail bridges over Highway 54 within the NCRR corridor.

“The existing bridge, built in 1927 when there was little traffic other than farming vehicles, has a horizontal opening of only 25 feet,” said Scott Saylor, NCRR President. “It is a bottleneck on what has become a main RTP artery.” The overhead clearance is currently only 13’4”, which restricts passage of most trucks. The new bridge will have a vertical clearance of 16" feet and a horizontal opening of approximately 90 feet, and will allow the North Carolina Department of Transportation to widen and improve NC 54 between Davis Drive and Miami Blvd.

NCRR and Norfolk Southern are coordinating efforts with the Research Triangle Foundation, Triangle Transit Authority, and Nortel Networks.

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The North Carolina Railroad Company owns and manages the 317-mile rail corridor from Morehead City to Charlotte that serves as the backbone of the state’s rail system. The railroad carries more than 60 freight trains operated by Norfolk Southern and eight Amtrak passenger trains daily. NCRR’s corporate stock is owned by the State of North Carolina. NCRR’s mission is to manage, improve and protect the state’s rail properties and corridors in a manner that will enhance freight and passenger service and promote economic development.

Contact: Kat Christian
Public Affairs Director
North Carolina Railroad Company
(919) 954-7601, Ext. 247