N.C. Department of Transportation contract crews will be closing a couple of roads in Kannapolis as work continues on a $16.3 million contract to make safety improvements where Rogers Lake Road crosses the North Carolina and Norfolk Southern Railroads. Albemarle contractor NJR Group, Inc. earned the project in late 2022 to build a bridge separating Rogers Lake Road from the railroad tracks and to close the at-grade crossing.

To safely install girders for the new bridge, S. Ridge Avenue will be closed from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. April 16 and 17. A temporary detour will be signed along Rogers Lake Road, Meadow Avenue and Russell Street.

In addition, crews will close S. Main Street from 6 p.m. April 21 until 6 a.m. April 22 to continue girder placement. Drivers will be detoured along Rogers Lake Road, Triece Street and Lowrance Avenue.

Replacing the street-level crossing will eliminate train-vehicle conflicts and reduce train horn noise while supporting current and future passenger rail service, in addition to the frequent freight train traffic at the crossing. The grade separation will also remove frequent delays drivers experience while waiting on passing trains.

All roadwork is anticipated to finish up by spring 2026. Vegetation establishment can continue through the end of 2026.

The project is included in the Cabarrus-Rowan Metropolitan Planning Organization’s Comprehensive Transportation Plan and 2040 Metropolitan Transportation Plan.

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