Recently travelers, such as Catawba commuters, may have noticed a slight change in traffic patterns around US Highway 29 between Salisbury and China Grove. Most of the work is centered closely around the railroad tracks which parallel the highway. The changes are a part of a program designed to improve the railroad corridor, which would be a critical part of a link between the American south and the northeast. The rail line is jointly owned by Norfolk Southern and the North Carolina Department of Transportation, both of which are playing a significant part in the construction. Work is being done at a rapid pace, with big changes ahead.

Some of the things that the NCDOT/NS are doing:
Railroad crossings at Peach Orchard, Peeler, Mt. Hope Church, Centerview, and Thom Streets are being closed to improve safety along the line.
A bridge will connect Peeler and Peach Orchard Roads and allow access to Hwy 29.
The entire rail line will receive a second track, improving efficiency of rail travel.
Klumac Road in Salisbury will include an underpass to connect with S Main Street.
An additional NCDOT Passenger Train will be added to the current schedule.
Improvements to the Webb Road and Church Street crossings.

Currently, Webb Road is closed to thru traffic across the tracks, disconnecting Highway 29 with Interstate 85’s Exit 70. It is expected to be closed until sometime in early to mid May. It is suggested to use Peeler Road instead when traveling from Highway 29 to Interstate 85. However, Webb Road will return to availability.

You may be wondering why is the Department of Transportation going to all of this trouble? Due to the increasing demand in rail traffic, more trains need to be run to comply with demand. The project will add a second rail line beside the existing line between south Salisbury and north Kannapolis. This will allow more trains to travel through the area, which serves as a critical corridor connecting the Southeast with the North. Despite the inconveniences of rerouting car travel, the improvements will go great lengths to keeping our economy moving.

So for those like me who experience some or significant difficulty traveling around detours and reroutes, here are some helpful tips to be literally “street smart”:
-Plan 5 minutes ahead of normal schedule
-Inform other area drivers about the changes
-Realize the greater good the project exhibits for our local and national economy.

Good luck and drive safe when commuting, especially when traversing the detours.