$20 Million Approved for Circleville South Court Street Railroad Overpass

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(Washington DC) – Up to $20 million has been secured to replace the at-grade crossing with a grade separation for South Court Street on the Norfork Southern Heartland Corridor in the City of Circleville. The proposed project was selected for Project Design, Right-Of-Way-Acquisition, and Construction.

According to a press release from the U.S. Department of Transportation web site, “The City of Circleville faces significant challenges due to at-grade railroad crossings that cause frequent traffic delays and impacts emergency services. During these delays, the city is divided into north and south sections, complicating emergency responses and everyday travel.”

The project aligns with the selection criteria by enhancing safety and mobility, as the project will improve safety, traffic flow, and emergency service response times, and enhance overall mobility in the city.

The City of Circleville and the Ohio Rail Development Commission will contribute the 20% non-federal match to fund the project. This project qualifies for the statutory set-aside for projects in rural areas.

The Ohio Department of Transportation authorized a feasibility study in December 2024, which identified South Court Street as the best location for the overpass. The firm American Structurepoint has been working with Circleville officials since 2019 to find solutions to correcting traffic congestion caused by railroad crossings.

Approximately 40 trains traverse through Circleville each day.