Illinois commission OKs five crossing safety projects

The Illinois Commerce Commission last week approved five grade crossing safety improvement projects in five counties.

The projects call for:

• CSX to replace existing warning devices with new automatic warning devices and circuitry at the County Road 2350 East crossing near Casey, the County Roads 2200 East and 700 East crossings near Jewett, and the County Road 575 East crossing near Montrose. The full cost of the project is $1.9 million, with the state's Grade Crossing Protection Fund to cover 95% of the cost to install new warning devices and the entire cost to improve the highway approaches at each crossing. CSX will pay all remaining and future costs for the signals;
• CSX to install new automatic warning devices and improve approaches at the 2950 North crossing near Alvin and the Jones Road crossing in Danville. The estimated cost is just over $1 million. The state will pay for 95% of the cost to install warning devices and the entire cost of the approach improvements;
• Norfolk Southern Railway to install new automatic flashing light signals and gates and improve approaches at the County Road 3000 East crossing near Albion. The full cost is $384,749, with the state covering 95% and NS responsible for all remaining and future costs of the devices;
• NS to install new automatic flashing light signals and gates and improve approaches at the Falcon Lane/TR 476 crossing near Bluford. The total cost is $422,395, with the state covering 95% and NS responsible for all remaining and future costs of the devices; and
• NS to install new automatic flashing light signals and gates and improve approaches at the County Road 700 North/TR 495 crossing near Ellery. The total cost is $407,232, with the state to cover 95% of the signal installation cost and 100% of the approach improvements. NS will be responsible for all remaining and future signal costs.

The work on all projects is expected to wrap up within 18 months.