Our Projects
Grand Avenue & Indiana Harbor Belt & CN Grade Separation
Topline Community Benefits
Safer roadway conditions and upgraded infrastructure.
Mobility improvements for the local community and freight operators.
Localized environmental improvments from congestion reductions.
Project Funding Needs
Project Location Map
This map highlights the project's location within the region.
To learn more about other CREATE projects, zoom out to explore the map.
Municipality
Franklin Park
Project Area
| North Limit | Cherry Ave. |
|---|---|
| South Limit | W Richard Street |
| East Limit | Willow St. |
| West Limit | Martens St. |
Project Overview & Impact
The Grand Avenue and Indiana Harbor Belt and CN Grade Separation eliminated the at-grade rail-highway crossing by moving Grand Avenue under the Indiana Harbor Belt (IHB) and Canadian National (CN) tracks. This $45 million dollar project has expedited motorist traffic in the Franklin Park area. This eliminated over 5,000 vehicles a day from being delayed at two Grand Avenue crossings.
Project Benefits
CommunitiesThe Grand Avenue and Indiana Harbor Belt and CN Grade Separation will create substantial time saving and safety improvements. The grade crosing separation will eliminate delay to over 5,000 vehicles daily.
Chicago, IL Community Areas: Franklin Park
Jobs & EconomicsThis crossing’s improvements will boost local and regional economic throughput by ensuring steady freight service.
EnvironmentalLess congested road and railways lead to localized air quality improvements.
Passenger Rail ServicesFreight rail improvements benefit the whole system.
Get 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 | Completed |
|---|
| Phase II | Completed |
|---|
| Phase III | Completed |
|---|
Project Status Definitions:
– Phase I: Environmental & Preliminary Engineering
– Phase II: Final Design (Plans, Specifications & Estimates)
– Phase III: Construction
Stay Informed About These Projects
Want to stay in the know? Sign up for the CREATE newsletter to receive the latest project updates and ongoing project information.