Source: NC DOT, 6/28/19


Mountaire Farms, Inc. recently completed construction of a feed mill near Maxton in Scotland County. The company invested approximately $45 million in development of the facility and supporting rail operations. With a site spanning 700 acres, the new feed mill makes Mountaire Farms the largest single manufacturer in the county, with the capacity to be the largest feed mill in the country.

To support the freight transportation needs of the facility, significant rail construction and refurbishment was required. Almost 17,000 feet of rail with eight turnouts were employed to construct a rail access loop around the site.

The new loop connects the facility to the newly-refurbished Laurinburg-Maxton Airport Commission rail line which included the rehabilitation of 6,934 feet of existing track and construction of 1,900 feet of new track, two turnouts with derails and a new at-grade crossing. Two existing at-grade crossings were also upgraded.

The Airport Commission line connects to the Class I "SE-line" that is owned and operated by CSX Transportation. SE-Line improvements included the rehabilitation of 1,900 feet of existing track, installation of three turnouts and railroad signal work.

Through the Freight Rail and Rail Crossing Safety Improvement Program, NCDOT provided a $200,000 grant to aid in the construction of the industrial rail loop and connection to the Commission rail line. Additionally, NCDOT provided approximately $1,291,000 from STI Economic Development funds to aid the improvements to the connecting track network. NCDOT also provided $162,500 to Scotland County for public rail crossing and highway improvements near the Laurinburg-Maxton Airport.

"Scotland County is thankful for all our partners that assisted in attracting Mountaire to our county. NCDOT Rail Division played a crucial role not only through grants but with knowledge and assistance throughout the process," said Mark Ward, Economic Development Director for Scotland County. "We have already determined 250 acres that can become rail serviced sites with the rehabilitation of this spur line."

On May 22, the feed mill received its first unit train of corn. Within the next two years of operations, the facility is expected to create 65 jobs and ship 2,160 carloads of freight. NCDOT is pleased to be a partner in transportation projects that create jobs and support economic development across North Carolina.