Norfolk Southern crews will close all crossings the first week of September for a rail replacement project expected to last 2-3 days.
Railroad crossings in the Town of Elon will fully close to vehicle and pedestrian traffic for at least two days in early September as work crews make their way west from Mebane to Greensboro as part of a comprehensive rail replacement project.
The tentative closure dates, subject to change based on weather and work conditions, are Sept. 1-3, 2026. Grade crossings near the Elon campus include those on (from east to west):
- Gilliam Road
- York Road
- Oak Avenue
- Williamson Avenue
- Church Street
During the closures, no vehicle or foot traffic will be permitted at crossings. Drivers should use available detours, follow posted signs and allow extra travel time.
Anyone walking to or from South Campus must use the pedestrian tunnel underneath the railroad on East Trollinger and East Lebanon avenues. Students, employees, and other visitors to the Elon campus should give themselves extra travel time.
Elon University Campus Safety & Police will maintain a presence on both sides of the railroad tracks during the rail replacement project and partner with the Town of Elon Police to ensure adequate resources available to respond appropriately to any calls for service.
The Cook Road/University Drive overpass west of Elon is the nearest railroad overpass that will offer access to both sides of town. To the east, West Webb Avenue passes underneath the tracks and offers another vehicular route between both ends of campus.
The rail replacement project is part of a larger Carolinian and Piedmont Passenger and Freight Improvements project stretching from Greensboro to Raleigh. The rail lines that pass through the Town of Elon were last replaced in the 1970s.