A new bridge is about to rise over the CSX tracks at Rogers Road in Wake Forest, and work could begin as soon as Nov. 30. The project is one of four grade-separation bridges NCDOT is building across Wake County as part of the long-running S-Line rail corridor, and it comes just weeks after federal officials released a fresh chunk of funding to keep the broader effort moving.
Blythe Construction of Charlotte won the contract to build the Rogers Road span and could start work by the end of the month, according to The News & Observer. NCDOT expects the bridge to be open to traffic by fall 2030, and Rogers Road itself is expected to stay open throughout construction, though drivers will likely see traffic shifted onto temporary lanes at times. The finished bridge will carry four travel lanes, a center turn lane, and sidewalks on both sides once it replaces the existing at-grade crossing.
Those sidewalks will measure 5.5 feet wide with 4-foot buffers on each side, according to Discover Wake Forest, which describes the Rogers Road crossing as the first upgrade supporting the broader S-Line Rail initiative. Rogers Road isn’t the only crossing getting this treatment — NCDOT is also building grade-separation bridges at Durant, East Millbrook, and New Hope Church roads in Raleigh, lifting roads up and over the rail line rather than leaving cars and trains to cross paths at grade.
Federal Money Flows, But Only Half So Far
The timing lines up with a significant funding milestone. In October, the Federal Railroad Administration released $550 million for the S-Line project — but as the News & Observer’s reporting notes, that figure represents only half of the money that was pledged back in 2023, with the remaining funds expected to arrive as construction progresses…