FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                    April 10, 2001

CARY, NC – Next week, streets at four railroad crossings in Cary will begin being closed in sequence for about one week each to allow CSX Transportation to upgrade the railroad crossings. Closings will begin at the CSX tracks at Old Apex Road next week, followed by High House Road, Southwest Maynard Road, and ending with North Harrison Avenue. Since motor vehicle traffic on all four roads will be detoured while the work is underway, drivers should expect delays and are, therefore, encouraged to avoid travel in these areas as much possible. The Town of Cary plans to place advance warning variable message display signs at each location a week in advance of the construction.

"This total road closure will allow this work to be completed in the least amount of time possible," said Cary Engineer Russ Overton. "A partial closing, which would allow some traffic to pass, would take longer, be more expensive, and would be more hazardous to the workers and to the motoring public."

Detour routes will be as follows:

• Old Apex Road detour: along High House Road and West Chatham Street
• High House Road detour: along Old Apex Road, Southwest Maynard Road, and West Chatham Street
• Southwest Maynard Road detour: along Old Apex Road, High House Road, and West Chatham Street
• North Harrison Avenue detour: along Chapel Hill Road, North Academy Street, and East Chatham Street

Crossing upgrade involves replacing the existing timber and asphalt crossings with rubber, similar to crossings on Southwest Cary Parkway, Northeast Cary Parkway, and North Academy Street. The Town of Cary requested the crossing upgrades several years ago and will pay about $400,000 for the project. CSX Transportation will be in charge of constructing the improvements.

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