CHICAGO — BNSF Railway and CREATE have announced the completion of a CREATE project on the Western Avenue Corridor, the fourth of eight projects completed on that section of the project to improve Chicago rail traffic flow. Overall, 30 projects are now complete of the 70 that make up the entire program.
The newest project, known in CREATE documents as the BNSF Horseshoe, creates a direct connection between the railroad’s Chicago and Chillicothe subdivisions, allowing direct moves between its Corwith and Cicero yards. It also included crossovers between the new track and both CN’s Freeport Subdivision and CSX’s Blue Island Subdivision, as well as rehabilitation of six bridges over city streets.
“As the nation’s rail hub, it’s important that Chicago maintains a world class railroad system designed to meet the growing demands of both freight and passenger rail,” Jason Jenkins, BNSF Railway’s Chicago Division General Manager, said in a press release. “Completing CREATE’s Western Avenue Corridor Project will support more fluid railroad operations.”
CREATE, the Chicago Region Environmental and Transportation Efficiency Program, is a partnership of the U.S. Department of Transportation, the State of Illinois, Cook County, the City of Chicago, Metra, Amtrak, and the area’s freight railroads. Four other CREATE projects are under construction while three have been fully funded but have not yet begun construction. Visit the CREATE website for more information.
Finally.. Transfers between Corwith and Cicero.
CORWITH YARD, it’s exATSF Corwith yard.