Three at-grade railroad crossings in the Charlottesville will be periodically closed this week while the owner of the transportation easement conducts maintenance work.
“Norfolk Southern has planned surface track work impacting Shamrock Road, Dale Avenue, and Concord Street within the City of Charlottesville city limits between April 1st and April 5th,” reads a city press release sent out on March 17.
The tracks were still open at 11 a.m. on April 1 but signs were positioned in the area to warn drivers of their potential for closure.
Norfolk Southern owns the track that runs northeast toward Washington, D.C. and southwest toward Lynchburg.
The notice did not specify where the closure applied to pedestrians and cyclists or just vehicles and a request for clarification is pending.
The length of each closure might be different due to a variety of factors including weather, equipment, failure, and use of the track by locomotives and their cars.
The Shamrock Road crossing connects the Fifeville and Jefferson Park Avenue neighborhoods. The other two crossings are in the Rose Hill neighborhood in the industrial portion.
The Virginia Passenger Rail Authority owns the east-west rail line which is not planning maintenance at the same time.
Top photo: The crossing at Shamrock Road was not closed at 11 a.m. on April 1, 2025. (Credit: Sean Tubbs)
Before you go: This is an example of a very small story about a railroad closure that makes me want to do a deeper dive. I’m doing just that for another publication right now, but I want to get this one posted so I can ask questions. This was originally in the March 27, 2025 edition of the Charlottesville Community Engagement newsletter. Do you live in the area? I’m curious to know what you think.
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