By Benjamin Schachtman, Port City Daily; December 11, 2017
WILMINGTON — The rail realignment project is an ambitious plan to replace the city’s commercial freight line with public transportation, while rerouting rail service to the Port of Wilmington across the Cape Fear River. The projected cost of the project, upwards of $1 billion, is daunting, but it has continued to move forward, bringing in new potential stakeholders.
The rail realignment project has its origins in a problem: CSX freight lines travel through Navassa and over the Cape Fear River to the north of Wilmington, then take a looping eight-mile detour through Wilmington before arriving at the Port. The trip takes about four hours — costing shipping companies money and bringing traffic to a halt at thirty two intersections around the city.
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