Metra begins Waukegan Station project; preps for switch project

Written by Jenifer Nunez, assistant editor

Metra kicked off a $530,000-project to rehabilitate the Waukegan Station on its Union Pacific North Line June 29.

 

The project includes replacing the existing roof, partially repairing and painting the ceiling, partially removing and replacing floor tiles, renovating two entrance vestibules, constructing a new ADA-accessible ramp, installing a bus shelter with solar panels, lights and concrete pad, replacing the existing fence with a taller, decorative fence and partially replacing masonry walls. The work is expected to take about four months.

“This rehabilitation work will make the Waukegan Station a much more welcoming station for riders of our Union Pacific North Line,” said Metra Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer Don Orseno. “We are happy to be giving the people of Waukegan and Lake County the station facility that they deserve.”

The contract for the work was awarded to Rasch Construction & Engineering of
Kenosha, Wis., at the April meeting of the Metra Board of Directors. The work is being funded with $481,400 in Metra federal funds and $48,700 in city of Waukegan funds.

In other news, Amtrak is set to begin an extensive 40-day project to rehabilitate the set of switches that serve the south end of Chicago Union Station, which will affect Metra’s BNSF, SouthWest Service and Heritage Corridor lines.

The Control Point (CP) Harrison project is expected to begin in the early morning hours of July 6 and extend through Labor Day with the majority of construction work will be performed overnight and on weekends.

Due to the nature of this project, the number of tracks and switching points available to Metra trains using the south end of Chicago Union Station could be limited, which could cause minor delays.

CP Harrison is located under the new post office building and handles the majority of train traffic at Chicago Union Station. The project will replace six key switch and turnout points that are used primarily by Metra trains to access Tracks 2 through 14 on the south side of Union Station.

“This project, while it has the potential to create a short-term inconvenience for our passengers, is absolutely essential for safe and reliable service,” said Orseno.

 

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