Rail Maintenance Will Close Multiple Crossings in McDowell County

CSX and contractor Southern Commercial Development will begin a rail maintenance project on Jan. 12, 2026, working south through McDowell County. The work is expected to last about seven weeks, through approximately Feb. 23, 2026. Railroad crossings will be fully closed to traffic for individual windows of two to five days depending on conditions and the work required at each crossing; crossings will not remain closed for the entire duration of the project.

The phased closures mean impacts will vary by neighborhood and day. One-way in/out crossings will be reopened as quickly as crews can complete the work, often within 24 hours or less, but residents should expect short-term, full closures where flagging operations and railroad tie replacement occur. Dates provided are estimates and may change because of field conditions, weather, or equipment needs.

An interactive map will provide real-time updates on closure locations and daily status. Before the project begins the map uses a set of icons to show planned operations: a black train icon marks the exact location of each crossing scheduled to close, a purple star marks the starting location of each railroad tie team, a pink three dots icon shows one-way in/out crossings, and a blue flag marks where flagging operations will take place. During the project the map will update closure status with an orange X for closed, a green check for reopened, and yellow to indicate a schedule change. Residents are advised to plan ahead and to share map information with neighbors who may be affected.

The closures carry public health and equity implications for McDowell County. Temporary full closures or constrained one-way access can delay emergency medical services, complicate routes to clinics and hospitals, and impede daily travel for workers, students, people with disabilities, and older adults who rely on nearby crossings. Rural infrastructure disruptions disproportionately affect households with limited transportation alternatives. Local health providers, emergency responders, and county officials will need to consider alternate routing and communication strategies during the work to minimize harm.

Practical steps for residents include checking the interactive map regularly, planning alternate routes when possible, notifying caregivers or medical providers if appointments fall during planned closures, and sharing updated closure information with neighbors. Because schedules may shift, remain flexible and allow extra travel time until crews complete the project estimated in late February 2026.