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Last week, the Illinois Commerce Commission (ICC) approved plans to upgrade 10 grade crossings and provide state funds to cover a majority of the work. To be completed in July 2010, the projects will cost more than $2.4 million.

The work calls for installing automatic flashing light signals and gates with constant warning time control circuitry, and improving several highway approaches.

The upgrades will be completed at:
• Union Pacific Railroad crossings near Harvard, Normandy, Sidney and Woodland;
• BNSF Railway Co. crossings in Litchfield, and near Bushnell and Barstow;
• Illinois Railway crossings near Rockford and near Holcomb; and
• a Norfolk Southern Railway crossing in Vance Township.

The ICC will provide monies from the Grade Crossing Protection Fund (GCPF) to cover 85 percent to 95 percent of the costs to install various warning devices. The GCPF provides $42 million annually from motor fuel taxes to help fund the installation of warning systems and improvements to highway approaches at crossings, as well as the construction and reconstruction of grade separations.