GALESBURG, Ill. — The city of Galesburg has received a $25 million federal grant to fund the addition of rail lines at Galesburg Business Park, a 329-acre facility served by BNSF Railway.
The addition of spur tracks will support construction of an intermodal agricultural export facility by the DeLong Co. that will cover about 100 acres of the site. U.S. Rep. Eric Sorensen (D-Ill.) announced the grant, under the Department of Transportation’s Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity (RAISE) grant program, on Friday, Jan. 10, 2025. The application was also supported by U.S. Sens. Tammy Duckworth and Dick Durbin.
The project is expected to cost $54 million, with the DeLong Co. covering the remainder. The project will allow rail movement to the West Coast for commodities bound for Asia, saving about 4,000 miles over shipping via the Mississippi River and the Port of New Orleans.
“We are extremely grateful for the support of our legislators in making this project possible and are excited to finally see opportunities in the Galesburg Business Park expand through additional investment in strong rail infrastructure,” Galesburg City Manager Eric Hanson said in a city press release.
Design work will advance this year with construction beginning within two years.
