
Georgia DOT and Norfolk Southern are partnering to build a new rail line in Henry County. The new passing track will be between McDonough and Locust Grove.
The state is awarding $8.4 million for the project. Norfolk Southern will fund the remaining costs, or $12.6 million, for a total investment of $21 million.
McDonough Passing Track
Many residents will recall in 2022 when blocked railroad crossings were a frequent occurrence in McDonough. At the time, state and local officials worked with Norfolk Southern to identify an alternative. Since then, there’s been significant improvement in blocked crossings. Now, the new passing track will further enable Norfolk Southern to reduce blocked crossings.
The new passing track will be between King Mill Road and Colvin Drive. This is a distance of about three miles. This will allow Norfolk Southern to queue longer trains while they wait to proceed. The company built a new siding in this area last year. This was partially to serve the new cold storage facility. The passing track will be longer than the work done in 2023.
Georgia DOT is funding the passing track out of a new freight rail program. Lawmakers established it in 2021 to increase public investment in freight rail. The McDonough passing track is the largest recipient in this inaugural group of grant projects. Five other projects throughout the state are also receiving funding.
What They’re Saying
“Georgia DOT is excited to announce this first round of grants being made available under this new freight rail funding program and are pleased to award this grant toNorfolk Southern Corporation,” said Russell R. McMurry, Commissioner of the Georgia Department of Transportation. “Georgia’s freight rail network is a key economic driver and a vital component of our overall transportation network. This project will provide many benefits to Henry County and the state.”
“This funding represents a springboard for growth for our Henry County operations, thanks to the invaluable support from Georgia DOT and local officials,” said Norfolk Southern SVP & Chief Strategy Officer Mike McClellan. “It’s a triple win: enhancing service for our local customers, improving mainline train access across our 22-state network, and easing congestion along the way. These infrastructure improvements will bolster our operational efficiency while driving economic growth across the region, promising enduring benefits for our communities.”
“This announcement is exciting for my constituents and me as it will help to reduce the number of blocked crossings in Henry County,” said Georgia State Senator Brian Strickland. “We were glad to have had an opportunity to bring all the parties together on site to demonstrate the issues that exist and the critical need for this project.”
“The funding for this project was made possible by recent legislation and a budget which I was proud to support,” said Georgia State Representative Lauren Daniel. “Given the impact of stopped trains and blocked crossings, the district I represent and the citizens of Henry County will see firsthand the benefits of this project for years to come.”
Excerpts from the Georgia DOT press release. Featured image shows a Norfolk Southern locomotive. Clayton Carte photo.
Clayton, is there a map to show us the exact route of the new rail track? Thanks, Tim
Hello, it is my understanding the improvements will double-track the entire distance from the King Mill Road crossing to the Colvin Drive crossing.