South-Side Galesburg Rail Crossing Safety Overhaul Beginning To Show Signs Of Life

Operation Lifesaver

GALESBURG, Ill. –– Two years ago, a plan was announced to revamp several railroad crossings, but not a lot has happened on the project until now.

According to WGIL News Radio in Galesburg, Ill., about 170 miles southwest of Chicago, a $3.5 million plan to improve safety at eight south-side rail-highway grade crossings and close another, hatched two years ago, is finally beginning to see some activity.

This week, Galesburg aldermen approved a pair of Illinois Commerce Commission stipulated agreements. One is for Pearl Street crossing protection upgrades and closure of the East First Street crossing and the other is for rail-highway grade crossing improvements on five crossings on the BNSF Peoria Subdivision. The original plan’s goal is to upgrade eight rail-highway crossings with gate arms and improved warning circuitry and closing the East First Street Crossing.

When the agreements are finalized and signed by the city of Galesburg, Aaron Gavin, Galesburg’s Director of Public Works, expects to see the wheels start turning to move the project forward. The work will take about 12 months, yet much of that period will focus on ordering supplies and shipping necessary materials by BNSF. The city will schedule it’s efforts with that of BNSF.

According to WGIL, the details of the plans are as follows:

• “The BNSF crossing at East First Street in Galesburg will be closed.
• The BNSF crossings on South Seminary Street, along with the one on South Chambers will get new gates and flashing lights.
• BNSF crossings at Pearl, Day, Pine, Lombard and Farnham streets will get new gates and receive modifications to the flashing lights.
• The crossing on Locust Street will get a modified approach, along with gates and modified flashing lights.

The corridor where the upgrades will be done currently rely solely on flashing lights, which is deemed inadequate for the area’s traffic, particularly school buses. Director Gavin pointed out that installing gate arms and upgraded circuitry will improve safety for students, motorists, and pedestrians.

Further Reading

For more information about grade crossing improvements in Illinois, please read our recent story.