Illinois Commerce Commission approves work on 14 crossings, second track project
Written by jrood
The Illinois Commerce Commission issued an order this week granting EJ&E Railroad permission to install a second track between Joliet and New Lenox Township to accommodate an increase in rail traffic.
The new track will encompass seven grade crossings over public roads
on this route. Those grade crossings include North Rowell Avenue, Mills
Road, South Rowell Avenue, Country Club Road (Spencer Road), Briggs
Street, Cherry Hill Road North and Cherry Hill Road South and Gougar
Road.
EJ&E will pay for the construction of the second track,
approach work and warning devices and the project must be completed
within 12 months per the Commission’s order.
The ICC also approved work on 14 grade crossings in several Illinois counties:
New
automatic flashing light signals and gates with constant warning time
circuitry will be installed at two grade crossings of Norfolk Southern’s
track in Sangamon County and at two grade crossings of Norfolk
Southern’s track in Macon County.
New signals will be installed at
the Wyckles Road grade crossing near Harristown and at Broadway Street
in Niantic, Macon County and at the 3rd Street and 5th Street crossings
in Riverton, Sangamon County.
The total cost of the projects is
estimated at $1,023,443. The Commission approved the expenditure of
$921,099 from the Grade Crossing Protection Fund (GCPF) to pay for 90
percent of the installation costs. Norfolk Southern will pay the
remaining installation costs, and will be responsible for the all future
operating and maintenance costs associated with the new warning
devices.
Automatic flashing light signals and gates, controlled by
constant warning time circuitry will be installed at four grade
crossings of Norfolk Southern’s track in Champaign and Piatt counties.
New
signals and gates will be installed at the 2300E Road crossing near
Sidney, the Seymour Road crossing near Sadorus and the 100E Road
crossing near Ivesdale all in Champaign County, as well as the 1200E
Road crossing near Bement in Piatt County.
The GCPF will be used
to pay approximately 90 percent of the installation costs, $844,718, and
Norfolk Southern will pay all remaining installation costs, or $93,857.
The company also will be responsible for all future operating and
maintenance costs associated with the new automatic warning signals. The
projects must be completed within 18 months.
New automatic
flashing light signals and gates with constant warning time circuitry
will be installed at the State Line Road, Poland Road, 2050 E Road and
Park Street grade crossings of Norfolk Southern’s track in Vermilion
County.
The State Line, Poland Road and 2050 E Road crossings are located near Danville. The Park Street crossing is in Fairmount.
The
total estimated cost for installation of the new automatic warning
devices is $934,262. The Grade Crossing Protection Fund (GCPF) will be
used to pay 90 percent of the signal installation costs, not to exceed
$840,836. Norfolk Southern will pay all remaining installation costs,
as well as all future operating and maintenance costs related to the new
automatic warning devices.
The signal installation work is to be completed within 18 months, according to the Commission order.
CSX
Transportation will begin work on railroad grade crossing improvements
at Mill Street in Collinsville and Springfield Street in Paris.
The
estimated cost of the two projects, which involve installing new
crossing surfaces, is $165,046. Assistance from the Grade Crossing
Protection Fund will be used to reimburse CSX for the cost of materials
to renew the surfaces at both crossings. The railroad will be
responsible for all labor costs associated with the surface renewals.
Work is to be completed within nine months in accordance with the
Commission’s order.
The Mill Street railroad grade crossing in
Collinsville is equipped with automatic flashing light signals and
gates. The Springfield Street railroad grade crossing in Paris is
equipped with automatic flashing light signals.
