Illinois Commerce Commission approves bridges, crossing upgrades

The Illinois Commerce Commission has given approval for the removal and replacement of a bridge over the Rock River and the Illinois Railway tracks at Morgan Street in Rockford. The existing bridge was constructed in 1916 and carries Morgan Street over the Rock River and the Illinois Railway tracks. The structure was reconstructed in 1956, but a bridge condition report issued in 2000 recommended total replacement.  Included in the proposal submitted to the Commission by the City of Rockford were plans to consolidate the Illinois Railway tracks with the Chicago, Central and Pacific Railroad line near the bridge project in order to improve safety and reduce costs to the railroads. The rail consolidation plan will also allow for the retirement of the Illinois Railway Bridge across the Rock River upstream from the Morgan Street Bridge.

The removal and replacement
project is estimated to cost $38.5 million.  The Illinois Department of Transportation has allocated
approximately $21.2 million from Illinois’ Major Bridge Program to support the
project. The Commission authorized $5 million from the Grade Crossing
Protection Fund for the railroad consolidation plan improvements. The city of
Rockford will pay the remaining construction costs.

ICC
recently approved a proposal by the city of Galesburg to construct a bridge to
carry North Seminary Street/Kellogg Street over the BNSF tracks near the
downtown area. The city will close the current North Seminary Street
highway-rail grade crossing when the bridge project is completed. City
officials indicated that the number of trains passing through the city has increased
and is likely to increase even more in the future so the new bridge will
improve public safety and the convenience by eliminating long waits for highway
users at the grade crossing.  It
will also help to improve response times for emergency vehicles traveling to
hospitals in the city and preserve the historic nature of the community.

The
cost of the new structure is estimated to be $13,970,000. The Commission
authorized assistance from the GCPF for 60 percent of eligible project costs,
not to exceed $8,382,000.  BNSF
will pay five percent of the total project costs and the city will be
responsible for the remainder of the project costs associated with construction
of the new bridge.

ICC
granted approval for reconstruction of a highway-rail bridge near Scales Mound
to carry Veta Grande Road over the Chicago, Central and Pacific track in Jo
Daviess County. The total estimated cost for the bridge reconstruction is $1.6
million. The Commission authorized assistance from the GCPF for 60 percent of
eligible project costs, not to exceed $988,987. The Chicago, Central and
Pacific will pay 10 percent of the reconstruction costs, not to exceed $164,831
and the township and county will pay all remaining installation costs as well
as all operating and maintenance costs in the future. The Commission directed
that the project be completed by June 2, 2011.

ICC approved a plan to
install automatic flashing light signals and gates at the Knob Street grade
crossings of the BNSF’s and Union Pacific’s tracks in Waltonville, Jefferson
County. The total cost of the signal project is estimated to be $463,669. The
Commission authorized payment of 90 percent of the warning device installation
costs, not to exceed $417,298, from the GCPF. The railroads will pay all
remaining installation costs as well as all future operating and maintenance
costs. Work is expected to be completed on the signal project by June 2, 2011.

ICC
granted approval for the reconstruction of surfaces at various highway-rail
grade crossings of the Union Pacific tracks in Illinois. Locations where new
surfaces will be installed in the interest of public safety are as follows: 6^th
Avenue in Rockford; 1700 N (TR 1) near Buda; Osage Rd (TR1) near Normandy; 7^th
Street in DeKalb; Reservoir Blvd. near Peoria; Reed Road near Coal City; Braceville
Rd. in Braceville; and Maple Street in Nokomis.

The
Commission authorized payments of approximately $434,966 from the GCPF to pay
for materials for the safety improvements. UP will pay all labor costs to
install the new surfaces, estimated at $321,230, and will maintain the grade
crossings in the future. The reconstruction of the surfaces is required to be
completed within nine months.

The Commission administers
the GCPF, which is funded by motor fuel tax money designated for rail safety
improvements. The General Assembly appropriates $42 million annually for GCPF
projects.