advertisement

---

The Illinois Commerce Commission (ICC) recently approved plans to install safety devices at seven grade crossings.

To be completed by March 2010, the upgrades involve three Illinois Central Railroad/CN crossings near Freeburg, Gilman and Winnebago; two Union Pacific Railroad crossings near Benton and Woodland; one Norfolk Southern Railway crossing near Bement; and one BNSF Railway Co. crossing near Monmouth.

The work calls for installing new automatic flashing light signals and gates, some of which will be controlled by constant warning time circuitry. The projects cost between $160,000 and $400,000 each.

The ICC will fund a majority of project costs (from 85 percent to 95 percent) through the Grade Crossing Protection Fund, which provides $27 million annually for crossing improvements, and grade separation construction and reconstruction. The railroads will cover remaining expenses.