Federal funding has been secured for a long-discussed railroad overpass over South Lincoln Avenue in Salem, clearing the way for a project city and county officials say could finally end years of train-caused traffic jams and emergency-response delays. U.S. Sen. Jon Husted and U.S. Rep. Michael Rulli announced the funding, which they say will replace the busy at-grade crossing with a bridge carrying traffic over the Norfolk Southern rail line.
According to the Morning Journal, the federal money was awarded through the U.S. Department of Transportation's Railroad Crossing Elimination Grant Program and clears the way for construction to eventually move forward. Reports on the size of that federal award conflict sharply: WYTV reported the senator and congressman announced $21 million in funding, while WFMJ reported the city of Salem will receive $21,000 from the federal government for the same crossing elimination. The project will remove the railroad crossing at Lincoln Avenue entirely and replace it with an overpass, per WYTV's reporting.
Why This Crossing Has Been a Problem
Lincoln Avenue serves as the main entrance to Salem from the south and carries about 4,500 vehicles a day, including school buses and commuters, the Morning Journal reports. WYTV similarly reported the roadway carries roughly 4,500 vehicles daily. Train traffic counts also diverge between sources — WYTV reported nearly 50 trains pass through the area each day, while the Morning Journal's earlier coverage put the figure at an average of 64 trains daily.
Whatever the exact count, the trains have real consequences. Each train backs up traffic for an average of 5.5 minutes, adding up to more than four and a half hours of stopped vehicles every day, according to WYTV. Salem's police, fire and EMS stations sit north of the crossing, and a passing train can force emergency vehicles into a five-mile, 10-minute detour to reach residents and the region's only hospital in northern Columbiana County on the other side of the tracks.
Local and State Money Already Committed
The project has been in motion for more than a year. Columbiana County commissioners passed legislation to apply for the funding last year, and Salem City Council followed with its own application earlier this year. The Ohio Rail Development Commission is sponsoring the federal grant application and has already committed $5 million to the project, according to the Salem News.
Salem and Columbiana County each committed $250,000 in local matching funds, for a combined $500,000 local contribution, the Morning Journal's earlier reporting on the council vote shows. With the state commitment in place, the application sought federal funding to cover the remaining $19.5 million. The project's estimated cost before the federal grant was listed at $25 million, and the Morning Journal's latest reporting describes a combined cost of $26.5 million including the awarded grant — though a separate report from GovMarket News put the total project cost at $27 million, a figure that conflicts with the other tallies.
Officials Make Their Case to Washington
Husted and Rulli sent a letter advocating for the project to U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy in August 2025, arguing the bridge would mitigate disruptions from 48 daily train movements. The Youngstown/Warren Regional Chamber also backed the overpass effort, lending business-community weight to the push.
Husted said the investment will improve safety, keep traffic moving and support local businesses. Rulli, who has called Salem his hometown, said the overpass funding will make the crossing safer and cut delays for drivers. Columbiana County Engineer Bert Dawson offered a simpler reaction: “It's great news.”
What Comes Next — and What's Still Unclear
Once complete, Columbiana County will own, operate and maintain the bridge structure, making the overpass a county project even though it sits at Salem's southern entrance. A resolution passed by county commissioners described the grade separation as necessary for public health and safety, noting that the rail line divides the county from Salem and from access to the hospital and safety services.
Officials have also pointed to broader benefits: the project is expected to support economic development and unlock further investment in the city. But a confirmed construction timeline remains elusive. The Morning Journal's February report indicated construction could begin in January 2032 if there are no complications after the grant application was submitted, while GovMarket News reported officials expect to learn whether the federal funding is approved by next summer, with construction potentially beginning around 2030. The Morning Journal's latest reporting also notes that details about the project's effects on Chestnut Grove Road, Snyder Road and nearby businesses were not available.
