P-5731: 5th Avenue Extension - Lexington
P-5731: 5th Avenue Extension - Lexington
The N.C. Department of Transportation’s Rail Division, in partnership with the City of Lexington, is proposing safety upgrades to two rail crossings on East 5th Avenue and East 7th Avenue in Davidson County.
Interactive Study Area Map
Project Highlights
The N.C. Department of Transportation’s Rail Division, in partnership with the City of Lexington, is proposing safety upgrades to two rail crossings on East 5th Avenue and East 7th Avenue in Davidson County.
The project would:
Extend 5th Avenue southward, from Main Street to Talbert Boulevard. Where this extension crosses the railroad tracks, the road would be built under the tracks to separate it from train traffic.
Close the existing railroad crossing on East 7th Avenue
Remove the pavement on 7th Avenue from the tracks to Talbert Boulevard
The purpose of this project is to improve safety at the railroad crossings. The project would do this by:
Eliminating conflict (crash) points between railroad and street traffic at the existing East 7th Avenue railroad crossing
Shifting southbound traffic from the “jog” at Main Street and 7th Avenue to the safer, 4-legged intersection at Main Street and 5th Avenue
Project Map
A video explaining how to read a public hearing or meeting map can be viewed below. The video contains information on colors and symbology.
Project History
This project is being conducted in cooperation with the City of Lexington, as part of the City’s Depot District redevelopment project. The main element of the Depot District is construction of a new Amtrak passenger rail station, which includes boarding platforms, renovation of the historic freight depot as an interim passenger station, and street and parking improvements. In February 2021, the City approved a formal agreement with the NCDOT Rail Division to coordinate various aspects of the rail and roadway improvements, including the 5th Avenue extension and 7th Avenue rail crossing closure.
Project Funding
This project is listed as Project P-5731 in the N.C. Department of Transportation’s State Transportation Improvement Program.
| Estimated Amount* |
|---|---|
Project Development & Design | TBD |
Right-of-Way | TBD |
Construction Costs | $72,000,000 |
Total Costs | TBD |
* Estimated costs are subject to change
Project Timeline
| Estimated Amount* |
|---|---|
Project Newsletter - Download PDF | November 2021 |
Environmental Document | Early 2022 |
Utility Relocation | April 2024 |
Right-of-Way | 2024 |
Construction | April 2028 |
*Future dates are preliminary and subject to change
Project Comments
Due to Covid-19, NCDOT has suspended all in-person meetings until further notice.
NCDOT accepts comments throughout all phases of project development.
The public is encouraged to leave comments using this website, email, or phone number.
Project Email: 5th-Ave-Extension@publicinput.com
Project Phone Number: 984-205-6615 enter code 5146
Project Contact
Matthew Potter, PE
NCDOT Rail Division Project Manager
1553 Mail Service Center
Raleigh, NC 27699-1553
5th-Ave-Extension@publicinput.com
984-205-6615 code 5146
Title VI Feedback
To ensure we’re hearing from a broad set of voices, would you be willing to share (completely anonymously) some information about yourself?
If so, please click here: https://publicinput.com/ncdot-title-vi-form
RESOURCES FOR PROPERTY OWNERS
Although the N.C. Department of Transportation works to minimize the number of homes and businesses displaced by a road project, it is inevitable, in many cases, that a certain amount of private property is needed. The following information explains right of way acquisition and answers questions about the process.
Right-of-Way Brochure Single Page Layout Folleto del Proceso de Adquisición de Bienes Raíces
Right-of-Way Frequently Asked Questions
Right of way Acquisition Process Videos
Page last updated: July 27, 2026
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