Two Caldwell Railroad Crossings Approved For Upgrades

Two Caldwell County railroad crossings will be getting upgrades after Paducah and Louisville Railway was awarded grant funding for several projects.
Governor Andy Beshear announced Wednesday more than $2.2 million in grants to improve railroad crossings in 11 counties. He said in a release that railroads are an essential part of Kentucky’s transportation system, reaching every corner of the Commonwealth. He adds the projects being accomplished with the help of these grants will result in greater safety for the millions of vehicles that cross railroad tracks and more efficient operation of the crossings themselves.
According to the governor’s office, four companies submitted the selected grant applications: Paducah and Louisville Railway; RJ Corman Railroad Group; Kentucky Railway Museum; and Norfolk Southern. The applications were then screened by a Kentucky Transportation Cabinet selection committee and then approved by transportation secretary, Jim Gray.
A total of 17 projects were funded with each railroad company providing a minimum 20% match.
The two projects in Caldwell County are among the 10 projects submitted by the Paducah and Louisville Railway. Funding of $189,727 will be used to upgrade signals/lights on Matt Rich Road, along with another $189,727 to upgrade signals/lights on Varmint Trace Road.