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The Illinois Commerce Commission (ICC) recently approved plans and allocated funding for a bridge reconstruction project and four grade crossing improvement projects in the state.

The commission will provide $1.5 million from the Grade Crossing Protection Fund (GCPF) for a $4.8 million bridge project near Wyanet. To be completed in May 2012, the project calls for reconstructing a County Highway 8 bridge — which was built in 1931 — over an Iowa Interstate Railroad Ltd. line and relocating a crossing to make room for the new, wider bridge.

The ICC also will provide more than $800,000 from the GCPF to cover about 95 percent of the costs to improve crossings near Alpha, Buffalo and Worden on BNSF Railway Co.’s or Norfolk Southern Railway’s lines. To be completed in May 2011, the projects involve the installation of new automatic flashing light signals and gates, and various approach improvements.

In addition, the ICC will provide $245,000 from the GCPF to help fund the reconstruction of surfaces at seven NS crossings near Decatur, Dwight, Kankakee and Streator. Work is scheduled to be completed by May 2012.