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The Illinois Commerce Commission (ICC) earlier this week approved plans for the final phase of a $29.6 million grade crossing project in Granite City.

Kansas City Southern, Norfolk Southern Railway, Union Pacific Railroad, the state, county and city plan to fund the project, which calls for replacing an existing crossing with multiple tracks operated by the three Class Is with a new overpass. The project will be completed in about two years.

The ICC will provide $17.5 million through the Grade Crossing Protection Fund (GCPF) — the largest amount the commission has awarded for a crossing safety project — the Illinois Department of Transportation will provide more than $10 million, the county and city will provide $1.1 million, and three Class Is will provide $916,000.

Over the years, 31 collisions have occurred at the crossing and a nearby crossing that will be closed.

Meanwhile, the ICC also approved plans for a crossing upgrade near Kane. The commission will provide $205,000 from the GCPF to cover 95 percent of the cost to install automatic flashing lights and gates controlled by constant warning time circuitry at a KCS crossing. The project will be completed in February 2009.