Our Projects
Western Avenue Corridor
Brighton Park Connection
Topline Community Benefits
Enhanced operations between rail corridors, allowing for improved rail mobility and intermodal connectivity.
Modernized bridge, street, and freight infrastructure.
Improved signalization which will add capacity and efficiency.
Project Funding Needs
Project Location Map
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Municipality
Chicago
Project Area
| North Limit | Stevenson Expy |
|---|---|
| South Limit | W Pershing Rd. |
| East Limit | Western Ave. |
| West Limit | S Rockwell St. |
Project Overview & Impact
This new connection between the CN Joliet Subdivision and the CREATE Western Avenue Corridor will provide a new east-west route allowing greater flexibility for dispatchers to route trains through the Chicago Terminal. Traffic traveling north from locations such as intermodal facilities in Joliet will be able to proceed more directly to intermodal yards in the city, increasing the potential for steel-wheel interchanges of trains and cargo versus transporting containers via truck using local streets and highways.
This will construct a new connection from the CN Joliet Subdivision near California Ave. and Archer Ave. to the CREATE Western Avenue Corridor. It also includes construction of an additional track along the Western Avenue Corridor to the 22nd St. Interlocking near 21st Street and Western Avenue. Multiple bridges will be rehabilitated over city streets and over the Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal. Installation of crossover switches between the new track and the CREATE Western Avenue Corridor, and installation of a Centralized Traffic Control signalization over the length of the project.
Project Benefits
CommunitiesProject WA7 will rehabilitate infrastructure across the city, including multiple bridges, rail corridors, and streets. These improvements will boost freight efficiencies, while modernizing outdated infrastructure that passerby also interface. As well, the rail to rail improvements may divert truck trips, creating public health benefits and travel time savings from less congestion.
Chicago, IL Community Areas: Douglas Park, South Lawndale, Little Village, and Brighton Park
Jobs & EconomicsHigher rail throughputs and efficiencies may be realized due to the enhanced utilization of these corridors.
EnvironmentalTraffic traveling north from locations such as intermodal facilities in Joliet will be able to proceed more directly to intermodal yards in the city. This improvement in rail mobility can potentially divert truck trips (using local streets and highways) to rail, removing the associated pollution from local roadways.
Passenger Rail ServicesGet Involved
If your organization is interested in working with the CREATE Program, please refer to our Bid Advertisements and RFP page to apply for active projects.
We also encourage you to attend our Get On Board: Business-to-Business networking events, Union Outreach events, and other relevant events to learn more about the Program and build connections. Please see our Events page for the latest information on upcoming events.
CREATE partners also fund on-the-job training on construction projects for entry-level positions who have graduated from IDOT’s Highway Construction Careers Training Program (HCCTP). For more information on the program, please click here to learn more.
Project Status
| Phase I | Underway |
|---|
| Phase II | Upcoming |
|---|
| Phase III | Upcoming |
|---|
Project Status Definitions:
– Phase I: Environmental & Preliminary Engineering
– Phase II: Final Design (Plans, Specifications & Estimates)
– Phase III: Construction
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